Origin and history of box-top

"rectangular wooden container," usually with a lid, Old English box, also the name of a type of shrub, from Late Latin buxis, from Greek pyxis "boxwood," pyxion "writing table, box," made of boxwood, from pyxos "box tree," which is of uncertain origin. Beekes suggests a loan-word from Italy, as that is where the tree is native. Dutch bus, German Büchse "box; barrel of a gun," also are Latin loan-words.

The meaning "compartment at a theater" is from c. 1600 (box seat in the theatrical sense is by 1850). The meaning "pigeon-hole at a post office" is from 1832. The meaning "television" is from 1950 (earlier "gramophone player," 1924). The meaning "station of a player in baseball" is from 1881. The graphics sense of "space enclosed within borders and rules" is from 1929. The slang meaning "vulva" is attested 17c., according to "Dictionary of American Slang;" modern use seems to date from c. World War II, perhaps originally Australian, on the notion of box of tricks. Box lunch (n.) is attested from 1899. The box set "multiple-album, CD or cassette issue of the work of an artist" is attested by 1955. To think or act outside the box "contrary to convention" is attested by 1994.

"highest point of something vertical, most elevated end or point," Old English top, toppa "summit; crest, tuft, bunch of hair," from Proto-Germanic *toppa- (source also of Old Norse toppr "tuft of hair," Old Frisian top "tuft," Old Dutch topp, Dutch top, Old High German zopf "end, tip, tuft of hair," German Zopf "tuft of hair"). 

There are no certain connections outside Germanic except a few Romanic words probably borrowed from Germanic (toupee (n.) is from one of them, Old French top "tuft, forelock;" also compare Spanish tope).

Indo-European languages seldom have a "top" word so generic; it may be used of almost any upper part or surface. German has Spitze for sharp peaks (mountains), oberfläche for the upper surface of flat things such as a table.

From mid-13c. as "head, crown of the head;" mid-15c. as "piece fitted to the top of something." Specifically as "beginning of a story, narrative, etc." (as in from the top), by late 14c. Also by late 14c. specifically as "head or upper part of a plant," especially the above-ground part of root-crop plants such as turnips or carrots. By early 15c. as "cover or lid of a vessel."

The meaning "highest position" is from 1620s; the meaning "highest example, type, or representation, best or choicest part" is attested from 1660s, as in the Hibernicism top of the morning (attested by 1843). Also by 1620s as "upper part of a riding boot." The sense of "dominant sexual partner" is by 1961.

Top of the world as "position of greatest eminence" is from 1670s. Top-of-the-line (adj.) is by 1950. Figurative expression off the top of (one's) head "impromptu, without consideration" is by 1939.

Top in the nautical sense of "platform surrounding the head of a mast" is by early 15c. and is an element in many sailing words as well as nautical figures such as top and topgallant "in full rig, in full force."