Of unclear origin. Traditionally derived from Proto-Indo-European *teh₂l- (“to grow; young animal”) and compared with Ancient Greek τᾶλῐς (tâlĭs, “maiden, bride”), but the existence of this root, as well as the cognacy of the Greek term, has been called into question. The only other viable etymology that has been described in the literature considers the term as a derivative of tālus (“ankle, knuckle”).