tether

Meanings

Noun

• a rope, cable etc. that holds something in place whilst allowing some movement
• a strong rope or line that connects a sailor's safety harness to the boat's jackstay
• the limit of one's abilities, resources etc.
• The cardinal number three in an old counting system used in Teesdale and Swaledale. (Variant of tethera)

Verb

• to restrict something with a tether.
• to connect a cellular smartphone to another personal computer in order to give it access to a hotspot.
• to connect something to something else.

Related

Similar words

• hobble (strap)

Origin

• From Middle English tether, teder, from Old English *tēoder and/or Old Norse tjóðr ( > Danish tøjr); both from Proto-Germanic *teudrą ("rope; cord; shaft"), of uncertain origin. Perhaps from Proto-Indo-European *dewtro-, from Proto-Indo-European *dew- ("to tie"), or from Proto-Indo-European *dewk- ("to pull"). Cognate with North German Tüder.