Where does “ringfort” come from?

ringfort (English) comes from English ring, from Middle English ryng, from Old English hring, from Proto-West Germanic hring, from Proto-Germanic hringaz, from Proto-Indo-European (s)krengʰ-, from Proto-Indo-European (s)ker-, from Proto-Indo-European sek- — to cut, cut off, sever.

ringfort (English): An ancient circular fortification of earth or...

Definitions

  1. An ancient circular fortification of earth or...

Ancestry of “ringfort”, step by step

ringfort traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English ring

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishringA solid object in the shape of a circle; A group...
2Middle Englishryngring
3Old Englishhringring
4Proto-West Germanichringring, circle
5Proto-Germanichringazring, circle; curve; sound, ring
6Proto-Indo-European(s)krengʰ-to turn, bend
7Proto-Indo-European(s)ker-to cut off; to turn, bend
8Proto-Indo-Europeansek-to cut, cut off, sever

via English Fort

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishFortA fortified defensive structure stationed with troops
2Middle Frenchfortstrong
3Old Frenchfortstrong; strongly
4Latinfortisstrong, powerful; firm, resolute, steadfast,...
5Old Latinforctisstrong
6Proto-Italicforktisstrong, robust
7Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰerǵʰ-to rise; high, lofty; hill, mountain
Every word from Proto-Indo-European sek-
ringfort — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer