Want to remove ads? Log in to see fewer ads, and become a Premium Member to remove all ads.

Origin and history of tart

tart(adj.)

"having a sharp taste, pungent, sour, acidic," late 14c., probably from Old English teart "painful, sharp, severe, rough" (in reference to punishment, pain, suffering), from Germanic *ter-t- (according to Watkins from PIE root *der- "to split, flay, peel;" compare tear (v.1)). But the gap in the record is unexplained.

The figurative use, with reference to words, speech, etc., is attested from c. 1600. Related: Tartly; tartness, both unattested in Middle English.

also from late 14c.

tart(n.1)

late 14c., "baked dish of a flat pastry shell and a filling of meat, cheese, fruit, etc.," from Old French tarte "flat, open-topped pastry" (13c.), which is possibly (Diez) an alteration of torte, from Late Latin torta panis "round loaf of bread" (in Medieval Latin "a cake, tart;" the source also of torte). This is perhaps from the past participle of torquere "to twist" (see torque (n.)). In later use especially a small pastry with no crust on top and filled with preserved fruit or other sweet stuff.

also from late 14c.

tart(n.2)

1887, "immoral woman," sometimes indistinguishable from "prostitute," perhaps from earlier use as a term of endearment to a girl or woman (1864), and sometimes said to be a shortening of sweetheart. But another theory traces it to jam-tart (see tart (n.1)), which was British slang early 19c. for "attractive woman." Extended by 1935 to catamites, male prostitutes, etc.

also from 1887

tart(v.)

1610s, "make acid or piquant," from tart (adj.). To tart (something) up "dress or adorn in a cheap, showy way" is from 1938, from tart (n.2). Related: Tarted; tarting.

also from 1610s

Entries linking to tart

sweetheart(n.)

c. 1300 as a form of address to a child; late 14c. as a synonym for "loved one;" from sweet (adj.) + heart (n.). Properly two words; the Elizabethans began to merge it. Used colloquially in the U.S. by 1942 for anything good of its kind. As an adjective, with reference to labor contracts, it is attested from 1959.

tear(v.1)

[rend, pull apart by force] Middle English tēran "destroy by reducing to fragments; tear apart (an animal); rend to pieces (a book, garment)," from Old English teran "pull apart by force; lacerate" (class IV strong verb; past tense tær, past participle toren), from Proto-Germanic *teran (source also of Old Saxon terian, Middle Dutch teren "to consume," Old High German zeran "to destroy," German zehren, Gothic ga-tairan "to tear, destroy"), from PIE root *der- "to split, flay, peel."

The Old English past tense survived long enough to get into Bible translations as tare before giving place 17c. to tore, which is from the old past participle toren. The sense of "pull by force" (away from some situation or attachment) is by early 14c. (in tear down), hence to be torn between two alternatives (desires, loyalties, lovers, etc.), by 1871; tear (oneself) away "go unwillingly" (1797). The intransitive sense of "part, divide, or separate readily" is from 1520s.

To tear one's hair (out) in grief or frenzy was in Old English. For tear into, see tear (v.3). The print media tear-sheet "page featuring an ad, clipped from the publication and sent to the advertiser as proof," is by 1930.