Where does “ferme” come from?

ferme (Middle English) comes from Old French ferme, from Medieval Latin ferma, from Latin Firma, from Latin Firmus, from Proto-Italic fermos, from Proto-Indo-European dʰer-mo-s, from Proto-Indo-European dʰer- — to support; to hold.

ferme (Middle English): A lease; the renting of land

Definitions

  1. A lease; the renting of land

Ancestry of “ferme”, step by step

ferme traces back through 3 separate lines of ancestry.

via Old French ferme

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Frenchfermelease; the land leased; farm
2Medieval LatinfermaAlternative form of firma
3LatinFirmatax, tribute
4LatinFirmusstrong, powerful
5Proto-Italicfermos
6Proto-Indo-Europeandʰer-mo-sholding
7Proto-Indo-Europeandʰer-to support; to hold

via Anglo-Norman ferme

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Anglo-Normanfermerent, lease, farm; lease; the land leased

via Anglo-Norman French ferme

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Anglo-Norman Frenchferme

Words derived from “ferme

Every word from Proto-Indo-European dʰer-Every word from Proto-Indo-European dʰer-mo-sEvery word from Proto-Italic fermos