On taxis and taxes.

 

Taxonomy is the science of classification within the science of life. It is derived from Greek roots “taxis” which means an “arrangement”, and “nomi-“ which is used to refer to a “method” (for example, the method of managing the “home”, or an “eco” as some might prefer, is called economy). “Taxis” has been carried about a lot in English. A set of things (usually rules) arranged “together”, become a syntax. And if that’s not heroic enough we have people who are into arranging skins. We call them taxidermists, and they are what made Jurassic Park, and Jaws possible.

 

“Taxis” is in turn derived from a Proto-Indo European root “tag” which means “touch”. That is where we get the game of Tag (which I found has variants including British bulldog, Poison, Octopus tag, Duck, Duck, Goose, and even a John Green version in Kiss Chase). “Touching”, in all senses, can leave a mark. It’s a burden, a strain, especially one made by the government. That, is called a “tax” – quite literally, a “burden”. This is also why we call carrying a heavy thing from one place to another, “taxiing”, and thusly, a “taxi”. 

 

Beatles' the Taxman, from the '66 album Revolver. George Harrison wrote the song as a protest against excessive taxes levied by the then UK government.

 

When that burden is in the form of a labour, it’s called a “task” (a spelling infliction of “tax” in Latin). So, technically a “taxing task” is redundant (and a redundant task is taxing).