Where does “farmland” come from?
Farmland derives from English farm and land, with land tracing to Middle English lond, Old English land, and Latin firmus, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European roots suggesting firmness or solidity.
farmland (English): Land that is suitable for farming and...
Definitions
- Land that is suitable for farming and...
Ancestry of “farmland”, step by step
farmland 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 |