Where does “farmworker” come from?

farmworker (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.

farmworker (English): A person hired to work on the farm or in the...

Definitions

  1. A person hired to work on the farm or in the...

Ancestry of “farmworker”, step by step

farmworker traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English farm

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishfarmA place where agricultural and similar activities...
2Middle EnglishfermeA lease; the renting of land
3Old Frenchfermelease; the land leased; farm
4Medieval LatinfermaAlternative form of firma
5LatinFirmatax, tribute
6LatinFirmusstrong, powerful
7Proto-Italicfermos
8Proto-Indo-Europeandʰer-mo-sholding
9Proto-Indo-Europeandʰer-to support; to hold

via English worker

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishworkerA person who performs labor for a living,...
2Middle Englishwerkere
Every word from Proto-Indo-European dʰer-Every word from Proto-Indo-European dʰer-mo-sEvery word from Proto-Italic fermos
farmworker — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer