Where does “farmstead” come from?
Farmstead derives from Middle English fermestead, combining Middle English ferme from Old French ferme and Latin firmus, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European steh₂- meaning to stand or be firm.
farmstead (English): The main building of a farm; A farm, including...
Definitions
- The main building of a farm; A farm, including...
Ancestry of “farmstead”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | English | farm | A place where agricultural and similar activities... |
| 2 | Middle English | ferme | — |
| 3 | Old French | ferme | lease; the land leased; farm |
| 4 | Medieval Latin | ferma | Alternative form of firma |
| 5 | Latin | Firma | — |
| 6 | Latin | Firmus | — |
| 7 | Proto-Italic | fermos | — |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | dʰer-mo-s | holding |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | dʰer- | to support; to hold |