Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “ranch” come from?

Ranch comes from Spanish rancho, derived from Spanish ranchear, from Spanish arranchar, from French ranger, from Frankish hring, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European (s)ker-.

ranch (English): A large plot of land used for raising cattle,...

Definitions

  1. A large plot of land used for raising cattle,...

Ancestry of “ranch”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Spanishranchoranch; shed, barn; grotty grub
2SpanishrancharseCompound of the infinitive ranchar and the ...
3Spanisharrancharto skirt; to get together
4Frenchrangera ranger, one who looks after a region; to order,...
5FrenchrangA row or line of things placed side-by-side; A...
6Old Frenchrengplace; position
7Latinrencusrow; order, rank
8Gaulishrekos—
9Proto-Celticreketito arrange
10Proto-Indo-European(H)rek-to set in order

Words derived from “ranch”

  • rancher
  • ranchman
  • ranchhouse
  • ranchland
  • ranchette
  • ranchwoman
  • ranchhand
  • ranchy
  • ranchlike
  • ranchburger
  • ranch
  • ranch
  • ranč
  • ranch
  • rancher
  • rainseoir
  • rainseoireacht
  • rainse
Every word from Proto-Indo-European (H)rek- →