Etymology of 'toddler' - Wordsmith.org

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#207641 - 10/12/12 09:33 PM Re: Etymology of 'toddler' [Re: gaius novus]
PSTMD stranger Registered: 10/12/12 Posts: 1 Loc: Tucson, AZ	Replying to and old topic but here goes: I learned a similar story in Pediatric Residency. As I learned it, toddler derives from TOT (a small measure of rum). When one was a TOTTLER, one drank too many tots and stumbled. An infant was a small measure of an adult and also stumbled like a tottler. Hence the terms Tot and Toddler. Google searches through the decades have failed to find supporting evidence, but it is still a fun story to tell new parents (with a historic-accuracy disclaimer) PSTMD
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#207642 - 10/12/12 10:40 PM Re: Etymology of 'toddler' [Re: PSTMD]
Tromboniator addict Registered: 05/10/10 Posts: 691 Loc: Alaska	Well, just looking at Merriam-Webster it appears that toddle is at least 125 years older than tot, so I'm guessing that explodes THAT theory. It is a fun story, though. Peter
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#207644 - 10/13/12 03:11 AM Re: Etymology of 'toddler' [Re: Tromboniator]
Candy Pooh-Bah Registered: 09/21/10 Posts: 1705 Loc: down under	Hi PSTMD...yes a fun story. If a tot is a small measure of 'spirits' one would need a few to get toddled.
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#207647 - 10/13/12 11:48 AM Re: Etymology of 'toddler' [Re: Candy]
LukeJavan8 Carpal Tunnel Registered: 06/23/08 Posts: 5295 Loc: Land of the Flat Water	And toddlers have plenty of spirit, more than enough to go around. _________________________ ----please, draw me a sheep----
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#207648 - 10/13/12 11:51 AM Re: Etymology of 'toddler' [Re: Candy]
BranShea Carpal Tunnel Registered: 06/23/06 Posts: 5249 Loc: Netherlands, the Hague	For me the toddler's story goes like this. Tod is a current Dutch word (sorry, I didn't invent it), tod means a rag or worthless piece of cloth. I always saw the English word toddler as a babe waddling in easy fabrics. Because of all the tumbling it does it is not worthwhile to dress it up in a smoking, tuxedo or fancy dress. So it hobbles around in easy non costly fabrics. * A tod als means a cherished piece of cloth or raggy cloth doll that a baby/toddler absolutely needs when it goes to sleep. Toddler and tod belong together.
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