Origin and history of top

"highest point of something vertical, most elevated end or point," Old English top, toppa "summit; crest, tuft, bunch of hair," from Proto-Germanic *toppa- (source also of Old Norse toppr "tuft of hair," Old Frisian top "tuft," Old Dutch topp, Dutch top, Old High German zopf "end, tip, tuft of hair," German Zopf "tuft of hair"). 

There are no certain connections outside Germanic except a few Romanic words probably borrowed from Germanic (toupee (n.) is from one of them, Old French top "tuft, forelock;" also compare Spanish tope).

Indo-European languages seldom have a "top" word so generic; it may be used of almost any upper part or surface. German has Spitze for sharp peaks (mountains), oberfläche for the upper surface of flat things such as a table.

From mid-13c. as "head, crown of the head;" mid-15c. as "piece fitted to the top of something." Specifically as "beginning of a story, narrative, etc." (as in from the top), by late 14c. Also by late 14c. specifically as "head or upper part of a plant," especially the above-ground part of root-crop plants such as turnips or carrots. By early 15c. as "cover or lid of a vessel."

The meaning "highest position" is from 1620s; the meaning "highest example, type, or representation, best or choicest part" is attested from 1660s, as in the Hibernicism top of the morning (attested by 1843). Also by 1620s as "upper part of a riding boot." The sense of "dominant sexual partner" is by 1961.

Top of the world as "position of greatest eminence" is from 1670s. Top-of-the-line (adj.) is by 1950. Figurative expression off the top of (one's) head "impromptu, without consideration" is by 1939.

Top in the nautical sense of "platform surrounding the head of a mast" is by early 15c. and is an element in many sailing words as well as nautical figures such as top and topgallant "in full rig, in full force."

"children's toy made to whirl on its point," known from ancient times, late Old English top, probably a special use of top (n.1), but the modern word is perhaps via Old French topet, which is from or influenced by a Germanic source akin to the root of English top (n.1).

As a type of seashell, 1680s (top shell is by 1711), in reference to its conic figure. Another old word for a child's top-like toy was scopperil, Middle English scopperel (early 15c., in use through 17c.), which is said to be from Scandinavian or Dutch.

c. 1300, toppen, "cut or pull the top off (the hair); shave (the head);" from top (n.1). From c. 1500 in reference to a tree or plant. The sense of "put a top on" is from 15c. (implied in topping).

The meanings "be higher or greater than; rise above, surmount" are by 1580s. In Middle English the verb also had a sense of "fight, wrestle, struggle, rebel." The meaning "reach the top of" is by c. 1600.

In dyeing, "wash over with a different shade or color," by 1856. The meaning "strike (a ball) towards its top" in baseball, etc., is by 1881. Related: Topped; topping.

To top off is literally "to finish completely" (by putting on the uppermost part); the figurative colloquial use is by 1836. To top off in the sense of "fill up, add more to to bring to fullness" is attested from 1917.

"being at the top, uppermost, highest," 1590s, from top (n.1). By 1640s as "first in rank, order, quality, etc."

Top dollar "high price" is from 1942. Top-drawer in the figurative sense of "first class, of the highest level" (1920) is from British expression out of the top drawer "upper-class." Top ten in popular music is from 1945 ("Billboard").