Tent
Middle English: from Old French tente, based on Latin tent- ‘stretched’, from the verb tendere . The verb dates from the mid 16th century.
wiktionary
From Middle English tente, borrowed from Old French tente, from Vulgar Latin *tenta(“tent”), from the feminine of Latin tentus, ptp. of tendere(“to stretch, extend”). Displaced native Middle English tild, tilt(“tent, tilt”), from Old English teld(“tent”). Compare Spanish tienda(“store, shop; tent”).
From Middle English tent(“attention”), aphetic variation of attent(“attention”), from Old French atente(“attention, intention”), from Latin attenta, feminine of attentus, past participle of attendere(“to attend”).
From Middle English tente(“a probe”), from Middle French tente, deverbal of tenter, from Latin tentāre(“to probe, test”), alteration of temptāre(“to test, probe, tempt”).
From Spanish tinto(“deep-colored”), from Latin tīnctus, past participle of tingo(“to dye”). More at tinge. Doublet of tint and tinto. Compare claret(“French red wine”), also from color.
etymonline
tent (n.)
c. 1300, "portable shelter of skins or coarse cloth stretched over poles," from Old French tente "tent, hanging, tapestry" (12c.), from Medieval Latin tenta "a tent," literally "something stretched out," noun use of fem. singular of Latin tentus "stretched," variant past participle of tendere "to stretch," from PIE root *ten- "to stretch." The notion is of "stretching" hides over a framework. Tent caterpillar first recorded 1854, so called from the tent-like silken webs in which they live gregariously.
tent (v.)
"to camp in a tent," 1856, from tent (n.). Earlier "to pitch a tent" (1550s). Related: Tented; tenting.
