tack

tack
\ \ English has three distinct words tack. The oldest, meaning ‘nail or other fastening’ [14], comes from Old Northern French taque, a variant of Old French tachenail, fastening’.
\ \ This was borrowed from prehistoric Germanic, but the nature of its connection with attach, if any, is not known. In the 15th century it was applied to the ‘ropes, cables, etc fastening a ship’s sails’, and the adjustment of these fastenings when changing direction led to the use of tack as a verb meaning ‘change direction in a boat’. Tackysticky’, derived from tack in the 18th century, also depends on the general notion of ‘fastening’ (the origins of the other tacky, ‘shoddy, tasteless’ [19], are not known). Tackhorse’s harness and other equipment’ [20] is short for tackle [13]. This was probably borrowed from Middle Low German takel, a derivative of takenseize’ (to which English take is related). The origins of tackfood’ [19] (as in hard tack) are not known.
\ \ Cf.TACKLE

Word origins - 2ed. . 2005.

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  • Tack — Tack, n. [OE. tak, takke, a fastening; akin to D. tak a branch, twig, G. zacke a twig, prong, spike, Dan. takke a tack, spike; cf. also Sw. tagg prickle, point, Icel. t[=a]g a willow twig, Ir. taca a peg, nail, fastening, Gael. tacaid, Armor. &… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Tack — may refer to:* Tack , a type of cut nail, used in upholstery, shoe making and saddle manufacture * Horse tack, harness and equipment to allow horse back riding * Tack (sewing) (also baste or pin ), quick, temporary stitching intended to be… …   Wikipedia

  • Tack — ist der Name von Alfred Tack (1898–1970), deutscher Politiker (SPD) Anita Tack (* 1951), deutsche Politikerin (Die Linke) Conrad Tack (1844 1919), Unternehmer und Mitbegründer Conrad Tack u. Cie Fritz Tack (* 1942), deutscher Politiker (Die… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Tack — Tack, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Tacked}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Tacking}.] [Cf. OD. tacken to touch, take, seize, fix, akin to E. take. See {Tack} a small nail.] 1. To fasten or attach. In hopes of getting some commendam tacked to their sees. Swift. [1913… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • tack — vt: to combine (a use, possession, or period of time) with that of another esp. in order to satisfy the statutory time period for acquiring title to or a prescriptive easement in the property of a third party successive adverse users in privity… …   Law dictionary

  • tack|y — tack|y1 «TAK ee», adjective, tack|i|er, tack|i|est. very sticky or gummy; adhesive: »A tacky disk surface permits changing the abrasives (Science News Letter). ╂[< …   Useful english dictionary

  • tack — Ⅰ. tack [1] ► NOUN 1) a small, sharp broad headed nail. 2) N. Amer. a drawing pin. 3) a long stitch used to fasten fabrics together temporarily. 4) a course of action. 5) Sailing an act of tacking. 6) …   English terms dictionary

  • Tack — Tack, v. i. (Naut.) To change the direction of a vessel by shifting the position of the helm and sails; also (as said of a vessel), to have her direction changed through the shifting of the helm and sails. See {Tack}, v. t., 4. [1913 Webster]… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • tack — [tak] n. [ME takke < MDu tacke, twig, point, akin to Ger zacke < ? IE base * dek , to tear > TAIL1] 1. a short nail or pin, with a narrow shaft that is not tapered and a relatively large, flat head 2. a) the act of fastening, esp. in a… …   English World dictionary

  • Tack — Tack, n. [From an old or dialectal form of F. tache. See {Techy}.] 1. A stain; a tache. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] 2. [Cf. L. tactus.] A peculiar flavor or taint; as, a musty tack. [Obs. or Colloq.] Drayton. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • tack — [n1] course of movement aim, alteration, approach, bearing, bend, deflection, deviation, digression, direction, double, echelon, heading, line, method, oblique course, path, plan, point of sail, procedure, set, shift, siding, sidling, sweep,… …   New thesaurus

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