1580s, "tumble down, fall headfirst," earlier "tumble or roll about" (1540s), from top (v.) "to tip" + frequentative suffix -le. Transitive sense also is from 1590s. Related: Toppled; toppling.
topology
toponym
topos
topper
topping
topple
tops
top-sider
topsoil
Topsy
topsy-turvy