Tick
/tɪk/noun
A small blood-feeding arachnid that attaches to animals or people, or a brief clicking sound or check mark.
Did you know?English has several unrelated words spelled “tick”: the parasite comes from Old English, while the clock-sound sense is probably sound-symbolic; no securely established ancient root connects them.
Etymological Timeline
Old English
Old English
ticca
“A tick or blood-feeding parasite.”
Middle English
Middle English
tike
“A tick; a small parasitic creature.”
14th–15th Century
English
tike / tyke
“Forms used for the parasitic insect, later distinguished from other words with similar spelling.”
16th Century
English
tick
“The modern spelling for the parasitic arachnid becomes established.”
17th Century
English
tick
“A short, sharp clicking sound, probably formed through sound symbolism.”
Modern English
English
tick
“A parasite, clicking sound, check mark, or brief unit of time, depending on context.”