Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “windfallen” come from?

windfallen (English) comes from English wind, 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 — to support; to hold.

windfallen (English): Blown down by the wind

Definitions

  1. Blown down by the wind

Ancestry of “windfallen”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishwindReal or perceived movement of atmospheric air...
2EnglishfarmA place where agricultural and similar activities...
3Middle Englishferme—
4Old Frenchfermelease; the land leased; farm
5Medieval LatinfermaAlternative form of firma
6LatinFirma—
7LatinFirmus—
8Proto-Italicfermos—
9Proto-Indo-Europeandʰer-mo-sholding
10Proto-Indo-Europeandʰer-to support; to hold
Every word from Proto-Indo-European dʰer- →