Where does “farm” come from?
Farm derives from Middle English ferme, from Old French ferme, from Latin firmus meaning "firm" or "fixed," ultimately from Proto-Indo-European roots dʰer-, prep-, and per-.
farm (English): A place where agricultural and similar activities...
Definitions
- A place where agricultural and similar activities...
Ancestry of “farm”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | ferme | A lease; the renting of land |
| 2 | Old French | ferme | lease; the land leased; farm |
| 3 | Medieval Latin | ferma | Alternative form of firma |
| 4 | Latin | Firma | tax, tribute |
| 5 | Latin | Firmus | strong, powerful |
| 6 | Proto-Italic | fermos | — |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | dʰer-mo-s | holding |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | dʰer- | to support; to hold |