tiptoe

• tip-toe
• tippytoe, tippy-toe

From Middle English tipto, typto; equivalent to tip +‎ toe.

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈtɪpˌtəʊ/, [ˈtʰɪpˌtʰəʊ̯]
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈtɪpˌtoʊ/, [ˈtʰɪpˌtʰoʊ̯]

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• Rhymes: -ɪptəʊ

tiptoe (plural tiptoes)

1. (usually in the plural) The tip of the toe.

tiptoe (not comparable)

1. Standing elevated, on or as if on the tips of one's toes.
   • c. 1591–1595 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Romeo and Ivliet”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358, [Act III, scene v]:

     Night's candles are burnt out, and jocund day / Stands tiptoe on the misty mountain tops.

2. Moving carefully, quietly, warily or stealthily, on or as if on the tips of one's toes.
   • 1782, William Cowper, Expostulation

     with tiptoe step

   • 1819, Lord Byron, The Prophecy of Dante

     And stole along on tiptoe tread

tiptoe (third-person singular simple present tiptoes, present participle tiptoeing, simple past and past participle tiptoed)

1. To walk quietly with only the tips of the toes touching the ground. [from late 14th C.]
   • 1884 December 10, Mark Twain [pseudonym; Samuel Langhorne Clemens], chapter II, in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: (Tom Sawyer’s Comrade) […], London: Chatto & Windus, […], OCLC 458431182, page 8:

     We went tip-toeing along a path amongst the trees back towards the end of the widow's garden, stooping down so as the branches wouldn't scrape our heads.

   • 1913, Joseph C. Lincoln, chapter 13, in Mr. Pratt's Patients:

     We tiptoed into the house, up the stairs and along the hall into the room where the Professor had been spending so much of his time.

   • 1929, Al Dubin (lyrics), Joe Burke (music), “Tiptoe Through the Tulips”, performed by Nick Lucas:

     Tiptoe through the window / By the window, that is where I'll be / Come tiptoe through the tulips with me / Tiptoe from your pillow / To the shadow of the willow tree / And tiptoe through the tulips with me.

• Petito