Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “fireplace” come from?

Fireplace comes from Middle English fireplace, from Old French fire and place, with place deriving from Latin platea, Ancient Greek πλατεῖα (broad street), πλατύς (broad), and Proto-Indo-European plat- and pelh₂-.

fireplace (English): An open hearth for holding a fire at the base of...

Definitions

  1. An open hearth for holding a fire at the base of...

Ancestry of “fireplace”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishfireA chemical reaction involving the bonding of...
2Middle EnglishfierAlternative form of figer
3Old Englishfȳrfire
4Old EnglishfeorAlternative form of feorr; far
5Proto-Germanicferraifar, distant
6Proto-Indo-Europeanper-nóy—
7Proto-Indo-Europeanper-before, in front; first; to go through
8Proto-Indo-Europeanpr̥tóspassed , crossed

Words derived from “fireplace”

  • fireplaced
Every word from Proto-Indo-European pr̥tós →