The word 'tyke' entered English from Old Norse 'tík', which specifically referred to a female dog. This Norse term is believed to have a deeper Germanic origin, possibly related to words for 'teat' or 'to produce', reflecting the animal's reproductive role. In English, the term's meaning broadened from a dog, often a mongrel or cur, to be applied in a derogatory or affectionate manner to a person from a particular region, notably Yorkshire. Eventually, through a process of semantic softening and endearment, it evolved into its primary modern sense: a playful or cheeky small child, retaining a connotation of spirited roughness from its canine origins.

The word is a simplex. It is a loanword from Old Norse 'tík', meaning 'bitch (female dog)'.