Topple
/ˈtɒp.əl/noun
To fall or cause something to fall from an upright position.
Did you know?Topple is a later formation related to the idea of a “top” or summit, and it captures the physical drama of something losing its highest point and crashing down.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*steb-
“to step, tread, or plant firmly”
Old English
English
topp
“top, summit, tuft, or crest”
Middle English
English
toppen
“to strike the top of, or knock over”
16th Century
English
topple
“to tumble or fall over”
Modern English
English
topple
“to fall or make something fall from an upright position”