teeter-totter
|tee/ter-tot/ter|
A2
🇺🇸
/ˈtiːtər ˌtɑːtər/
🇬🇧
/ˈtiːtə ˌtɒtə/
playground apparatus
Etymology
Etymology Information
'teeter-totter' originates from the combination of 'teeter,' meaning 'to move unsteadily,' and 'totter,' meaning 'to walk unsteadily.'
Historical Evolution
'teeter-totter' evolved from the Middle English word 'teteren,' which meant 'to tremble or shake,' and 'totteren,' which meant 'to stagger.'
Meaning Changes
Initially, it meant 'to move unsteadily,' but over time it evolved into its current meaning of a playground apparatus.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a long, narrow board supported by a single pivot point, used as a playground apparatus for children to ride up and down.
The children played on the teeter-totter at the park.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:35