Where does “furlong” come from?
Furlong derives from Middle English forlong, Old English furlang, Old English lang, Proto-Germanic langaz, and Proto-Indo-European dl̥h₁gʰós, ultimately from the Proto-Indo-European root per-.
furlong (English): A unit of length equal to 220 yards, 1⁄8 mile, or...
Definitions
- A unit of length equal to 220 yards, 1⁄8 mile, or...
Ancestry of “furlong”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | furlong | furlong unit of length |
| 2 | Old English | furlang | furlong |
| 3 | Old English | furh | furrow |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | furhs | furrow |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | perḱ- | colored; motley; to open, rip up |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | per- | before, in front; first; to go through |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | pr̥tós | passed , crossed |