Etymology: Origin uncertain. Perhaps < Anglo-Norman and Middle French toie, Middle French toye, variant of taie , taye (French taie ) cover for pillow or cushion (c1140 in Old French), integument, membrane, film, (specifically) albugo (all 13th cent.), in negative constructions as the type of something of little or no value (c1358), in Anglo-Norman also cobweb, diaphragm (both 13th cent.) < classical Latin thēca cover, case, sheath (see theca n.); the presumed semantic development being from ‘something flimsy or insubstantial’ to ‘something of little value or importance’ to ‘something playful, frivolous, or foolish’ (although the latter sense is unattested in French). In sense 8 perhaps influenced by or borrowed from Dutch tooi (see below).Alternative suggestions have been made which derive the word from Dutch, either (i) < Middle Dutch toi (1415–35; Dutch tooi ) clothing, especially fine clothing, adornment, finery (ultimately < the same base as touwen : see taw v.¹), which accords well enough with the English word formally, but less well semantically (except perhaps in senses 6a and 8), unless the link is perhaps from finery to frivolity, or (ii) < Middle Dutch tuych (a1500; Dutch tuig ) equipment, gear, implements, tools, materials for work generally, ornaments, clothing, stuff, trash, rubbish (see tew n.²), which likewise shows only slight semantic overlap (perhaps again compare senses 6a and 8; but note also the compound speeltuig plaything, toy, literally ‘play-implement’ (early 18th cent. or earlier) with which compare sense 7a). But apart from the fact that both of these Dutch words are first attested later than the English, a more decisive objection is that neither suggestion adequately explains the early sense development.

Etymology: < toy n. Compare earlier play v. II.