Etymograph

English

tigerback

From tiger + back, modelled on horseback.

Formed from tiger + back

Proto-Indo-European *(s)teyg- ‘to point, stick’

Ancient Greek τίγρις

Latin tigris

Anglo-Norman tigre

Middle English tygre

English tiger

Proto-Germanic *baką ‘back’

Proto-West Germanic *bak

Old English bæc

Middle English bak ‘the back’

English back

Today it means

noun The back of a tiger (being ridden, or laden with luggage, as a means of transportation).

Sources

Sources: Wiktionary, “tigerback”. By Wiktionary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0, via kaikki.org (dump of Oct 3 2026); text adapted and restructured. Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word. License.

Etymograph / tigerback