Where does “fairgrounds” come from?

Fairgrounds comes from English fair and English ground, where ground derives from English grind, Faroese grind, and Proto-Indo-European roots ph₂ḱ- and dʰeh₁- meaning to press or set.

fairgrounds (English): Alternative spelling of fairground; the grounds...

Definitions

  1. Alternative spelling of fairground; the grounds...

Ancestry of “fairgrounds”, step by step

fairgrounds traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English grounds

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Englishgroundsplural of ground; Basis or justification for...
2EnglishgroundThe surface of the Earth, as opposed to the sky...
3Middle Englishgroundground; Earth
4Old Englishgrundground; bottom, foundation; abyss, depths
5Proto-Germanicgrunduzground, foundation
6Proto-Indo-Europeangʰrem-to be angry; to sound, bellow, growl, roar, be...
7Proto-Indo-Europeangʰer-to rub; to stroke; to grind

via English fair

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishfairBeautiful, of a pleasing appearance, with a pure...
2Middle Englishfayrfair
3Old Englishfæġerbeautiful
4Proto-West Germanicfagrbeautiful
5Proto-Germanicfagrazsuitable, fitting, appropriate, nice
6Proto-Indo-Europeanph₂ḱ-to fasten, place
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gʰer-
fairgrounds — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer