The word 'tinge' entered English in the late 15th century, borrowed directly from the Latin verb 'tingere', which means 'to dip, to soak, to dye'. This Latin root is thought to originate from the Proto-Indo-European base teng-, meaning 'to soak'. The core concept of moistening or dipping in a dye gave rise to the sense of imparting color. Over time, the meaning broadened from the literal application of color to include the figurative imparting of a slight trace of any quality, emotion, or character, perfectly capturing its modern sense of a faint trace or slight shade.

The word 'tinge' is a simplex word. It is derived from the Latin verb 'tingere', meaning 'to dye, to moisten'.