Teeth
/tiːθ/noun
The hard, bony structures in the jaws used for biting and chewing food.
Did you know?In many ancient cultures, teeth were believed to hold spiritual power, often used in rituals to ward off evil spirits or ensure protection.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*dent-
“tooth or teeth; a root associated with biting and cutting.”
Latin
Latin
dēns
“tooth, a term linked to the act of biting.”
Old English
Old English
tīþ
“plural form of tooth, indicating multiple biting tools.”
Middle English
Middle English
tēth
“the plural form of tooth, evolving in pronunciation and spelling.”
Modern English
English
teeth
“the current form used to describe the hard structures in the mouth.”