Other forms: toggles, toggled, toggling
To toggle is to switch something between two states. Toggle the setting, a toggle switch, toggle it off.
There are only ever two states, which is the whole meaning — a toggle flips between them rather than choosing among several. The original toggle is a bar-shaped fastening pushed through a loop, the kind on a duffel coat, and the switch was named for the shape. Note that the origin of the word is unknown.
1verbtoggleTo switch something between two states.
“Press this key to toggle between English and French.”
2nounbarA bar-shaped fastening pushed through a loop.
“His duffel coat had wooden toggles instead of buttons.”
toggle is a switching, or a fastening.
The origin of toggle is unknown, possibly related to tug. The nautical fastening came first and the switch was named after it.
Proto-Indo-European
*dewk- — to draw, pull; to lead
Proto-Germanic
*tugōną — to draw, pull
Proto-West Germanic
*togōn
Old English
togian — to tow
Middle English
tuggen
English
tug
English, today
toggle
Of unknown origin. Possible alteration of tug + le tug comes from Middle English tuggen, from Old English togian (“to tow”), from Proto-West Germanic togōn, from Proto-Germanic tugōną (“to draw, pull”), from Proto-Indo-European dewk- (“to draw, pull; to lead”). 2 Cognate with German zögern (“to hesitate, pause”), Faroese and Icelandic toga (“to pull”), French touer (“to tow, tug a ship”); also Welsh dwyn (“to steal; to take; to bring to”), Latin dūcō (“to conduct, guide, lead; to take; to draw, pull; to consider, think; to prolong; to march; to forge”), Ancient Greek δαδύσσομαι (“to be distracted”), Albanian nduk (“to pluck out, pull out, tear”), ckb دۆشین (“to milk”), kmr dotin, doşîn, دۆشین (“to milk”), os ду́цын (“to milk”), ps لوشل (“to milk; to extort”), Persian دوشیدن, دوشتن, دوختن (“to milk”). Related to tow.
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA