Where does “fairy fort” come from?

fairy fort (English) comes from English Fairy, from Middle English faierie, from Old French faerie, from Old French fae, from Latin fāta, from Latin fātum, from Latin fātus, from Latin for — to speak, to be talking.

fairy fort (English): the remains of ancient archaeological sites in Ireland, like remains of ringforts, hillforts, or other circular dwellings; superstitiously said to be associated with fairies or leprechauns

Definitions

  1. the remains of ancient archaeological sites in Ireland, like remains of ringforts, hillforts, or other circular dwellings; superstitiously said to be associated with fairies or leprechauns

Ancestry of “fairy fort”, step by step

fairy fort traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English Fairy

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishFairyA mythical being of human form with magical powers, known in many sizes and descriptions, although typically depicted as a small sprite with gauze-like wings, especially one that is female. Fairies are revered in some modern forms of paganism
2Middle EnglishfaierieThe land or domain in which magical or mythological creatures live; the Otherworld
3Old Frenchfaeriethe sphere or realm of enchantment, magic or...
4Old Frenchfae
5LatinfātaFate; Moira; goddess who controls destiny; divine personification of fate
6Latinfātumdestiny, fate, lot
7Latinfātusspoken, said, told, foretold, related, predicted; having or had spoken, etc
8Latinfor"defective"; I speak, talk, say
9Proto-Italicfāōrspeak
10Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰéh₂tito speak, to be talking

via English Fort

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishFortA fortified defensive structure stationed with troops
2Middle Frenchfortstrong
3Old Frenchfortstrong; strongly
4Latinfortisstrong, powerful; firm, resolute, steadfast,...
5Old Latinforctisstrong
6Proto-Italicforktisstrong, robust
7Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰerǵʰ-to rise; high, lofty; hill, mountain
Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰéh₂ti
fairy fort — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer