tar

English

/tɑː/, /tɑɹ/

noun
Definitions
  • (usually) A black, oily, sticky, viscous substance, consisting mainly of hydrocarbons derived from organic materials such as wood, peat, or coal.
  • coal Coal tar.
  • (uncountable) A solid residual byproduct of tobacco smoke.
  • (slang) A sailor, because of the traditional tarpaulin clothes.
  • (uncountable) black Black tar, a form of heroin.

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English ter inherited from Old English teoru inherited from Proto-Germanic *terwą derived from Proto-Indo-European *derwo-.

Origin

Proto-Indo-European

*derwo-

Gloss

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms