Where does “farmhand” come from?
farmhand (English) comes from English farm, from Middle English ferme, from Old French ferme, from Medieval Latin ferma, from Latin Firma, from Latin Firmus, from Proto-Italic fermos, from Proto-Indo-European dʰer-mo-s — to support; to hold.
farmhand (English): A person who works on a farm; A player in the...
Definitions
- A person who works on a farm; A player in the...
Ancestry of “farmhand”, step by step
farmhand traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English farm
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | farm | A place where agricultural and similar activities... |
| 2 | Middle English | ferme | A lease; the renting of land |
| 3 | Old French | ferme | lease; the land leased; farm |
| 4 | Medieval Latin | ferma | Alternative form of firma |
| 5 | Latin | Firma | tax, tribute |
| 6 | Latin | Firmus | strong, powerful |
| 7 | Proto-Italic | fermos | — |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | dʰer-mo-s | holding |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | dʰer- | to support; to hold |
via English Hand
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | Hand | The part of the forelimb below the forearm or wrist in a human, and the corresponding part in many other animals |
| 2 | Middle English | hond | hand; Alternative form of hound |
| 3 | Old English | hand | A hand |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | handu | hand |
| 5 | Swedish | hand | A hand; A hand; the set of cards held by a player |
| 6 | Old Swedish | hand | A hand; A direction; A behalf |
| 7 | Old Norse | hǫnd | hand |
| 8 | Proto-Germanic | handuz | hand |