Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “Fort” come from?

Fort (English) comes from Middle French fort, from Old French fort, from Latin fortis, from Old Latin forctis, from Proto-Italic forktis, from Proto-Indo-European bʰerǵʰ- — to rise; high, lofty; hill, mountain.

Ancestry of “Fort”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Frenchfortstrong
2Old Frenchfortstrong; strongly
3Latinfortisstrong, powerful; firm, resolute, steadfast,...
4Old Latinforctisstrong
5Proto-Italicforktisstrong, robust
6Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰerǵʰ-to rise; high, lofty; hill, mountain

Words derived from “Fort”

  • Fortean
  • Forteana
Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰerǵʰ- →