Origin and history of tie

Middle English teie, tie, "rope, cord, chain," from Old English teag, "cord, band, thong, fetter; thing used to bind, that with which anything is tied," from Proto-Germanic *taugo (source also of Old Norse taug "tie," tygill "string"), from PIE root *deuk- "to lead" (source also of Old English teon "to draw, pull, drag").

From c. 1300 as "confinement, restraint." The figurative sense is recorded from 1550s. The sense of "cravat, necktie" (usually a simple one knotted in front) is recorded by 1761; tie-tack to hold one down is attested by 1961. The figurative old school tie (1938) in its literal sense was a necktie of a characteristic pattern worn by former students of a particular English school.

The railway sense of "cross-beam between and beneath rails to keep them in place" is from 1857, American English. In musical notation, the mark indicating continuous performance of notes is so called by 1650s.

The meaning "equality between competitors" is attested by 1670s, from the notion of a connecting link. Tie-breaker in sports and games is recorded from 1938. A tie-dog (c. 1300) was an old name for a fierce dog or watch-dog that had to be kept chained.

Middle English teien, "attach or make fast by a band, ribbon, or the like," from Old English tigan, tiegan, Anglian tegan, "to tie, bind so as to restrict movement, join, connect," from the source of tie (n.).

By mid-13c. as "fasten so as to prevent escape." From late 14c. as "fasten (shoes, etc.) by tightening and knotting the strings of." The meaning "make the same score as, finish equal to a competitor" is from 1888, on the notion of a connecting link. Related: Tied; tying.

To tie down "fasten or confine by tying" is from 1690s. The figure of tying the tongue to prevent speaking is by c. 1400. To figuratively tie (one's) hands "prevent effective action" is from 1640s. To tie the knot in the figurative sense "form a union" is from 1707. To tie one on "get drunk" is recorded from 1944.