Want to remove ads? Log in to see fewer ads, and become a Premium Member to remove all ads.

Origin and history of tackle

tackle(n.)

mid-13c., takel, "apparatus, gear," especially the rigging of a ship, from Middle Dutch or Middle Low German takel "the rigging of a ship," which is perhaps related to Middle Dutch taken "grasp, seize" (see take (v.)). Also compare tack (n.1), which, if not the origin, has influenced the sense.

The specific meaning "apparatus for fishing" is recorded from late 14c. The meaning "device for grasping and shifting or moving" is from 1530s (the sense in the mechanical block-and-tackle). The meaning "act of tackling, a seizing and grasping" in the sports sense is recorded from 1876 (compare tackle (v.)); as the name of a line position in North American football, it is recorded from 1884. Welsh tacl is from English.

also from mid-13c.

tackle(v.)

mid-14c., takelen, "entangle, involve," from tackle (n.). Originally figurative; the sense of "to furnish (a ship) with tackles" in preparation for sailing is from c. 1400. The meaning "harness a horse" is recorded from 1714.

The meaning "lay hold of, come to grips with, attack" is attested from 1828, described by Webster that year as "a common popular use of the word in New England, though not elegant." The figurative sense of "set to work on, try to deal with" (a task or problem) is attested by 1840. The sports sense is by 1867, "seize and stop" (a player running with the ball). Related: Tackled; tackler; tackling.

also from mid-14c.

Entries linking to tackle

tack(n.1)

[clasp, hook, fastener] late 13c., from Old North French taque "nail, pin, peg" (Old French tache, 12c., "nail, spike, tack; pin brooch"), which is probably from a Germanic source (compare Middle Dutch tacke "twig, spike," Frisian tak "a tine, prong, twig, branch," Low German takk "tine, pointed thing," German Zacken "sharp point, tooth, prong"), according to Watkins from Proto-Germanic *tag- (compare tag).

Specifically as "short, sharp-pointed nail with a flat head" by mid-15c.

In sailing by late 14c.; specifically meaning "rope or hooked wire to hold the lower corner of a sail in place" by late 15c. The extended sense of "course of a ship in relation to the position of her sails" is by 1610s. Hence the figurative use for "tactical procedure, course of conduct or mode of action suited to some purpose" (1670s), attested earlier in the verb (1630s). The notion is "temporary change in direction to take advantage of a side-wind."

take(v.)

Middle English taken, from late Old English tacan "to grip, seize by force, lay hold of," from a Scandinavian source (such as Old Norse taka "take, grasp, lay hold," past tense tok, past participle tekinn; also compare Swedish ta, past participle tagit).

This is reconstructed to be from Proto-Germanic *takan- (source also of Middle Low German tacken, Middle Dutch taken, Gothic tekan "to touch"), from Germanic root *tak- "to take," which is of uncertain origin, perhaps originally meaning "to touch" [OED, 1989].

The weakened sense of "get to oneself, get in hand, obtain, receive, acquire" is by late 12c. As the principal verb for "to take," it gradually replaced Middle English nimen, from Old English niman, from the usual West Germanic verb, *nemanan (source of German nehmen, Dutch nemen; see nimble and compare nim).

OED calls take "one of the elemental words of the language;" take up alone has 55 varieties of meaning in that dictionary's 1989 edition. Already in Middle English one could take pity, charge, a nap, hostages, heed, the veil, fire, an answer, a concubine, a bath, pains, prisoners, place, possession, part, leave, advice, a breath, a spouse, a chance, comfort, flight, courage. Compare the range of senses in Latin capere "to take."

In the sense of "take effect, work," earliest in reference to transplants or grafts (mid-15c.). As "obtain (one's image) by drawing or painting" from c. 1600, hence the later use for photographic images. To take after "resemble" is from 1550s. Take that! accompanying a blow, etc., is by early 15c.

You can't take it with you (i.e. riches, to the grave) is the title of a popular Kaufman and Hart play from 1936; the idea in the quip is at least a century older. To take apart "dismantle" is by 1936.

To take five "go on a five-minute break" is by 1929, from the approximate time it takes to smoke a cigarette. Take it easy is recorded by 1880; the phrase take it or leave it is recorded from 1897. Colloquial figurative phrase what it takes "the right qualities" (for success) is by 1858.

To take it "absorb punishment" is by 1862; take the rap "accept (undeserved) punishment" is from 1930 (compare rap (n.)); take the fall in a similar sense is by 1942 (compare fall guy, by 1906).