The word 'tae' is a direct loanword from Old Norse, entering Middle English as a straightforward term for dung or excrement. It is a prime example of the linguistic influence of the Viking settlements in the British Isles, where everyday vocabulary was absorbed into the local dialects, particularly in Scotland and Northern England. Unlike many Latinate terms, it did not undergo complex morphological evolution from a classical root but was adopted as a complete, simplex unit. Its survival into modern English is largely regional, preserving a concrete, earthy term from a language known for its practical and robust lexicon.

The word is a simplex form. It is a borrowing from Middle English, with its ultimate origin being the Old Norse word "ta", meaning "excrement".