English
fardel
Fardel comes from Middle English ferthendel, and goes back to Old English fēorþan.
- Old Englishc. 450–1150fēorþan
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500ferthendelliterally ‘fourth part’
- Englishearliest quotation a. 1634fardel
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Old Englishc. 450–1150fēorþan
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500ferthendelliterally ‘fourth part’
- Englishearliest quotation a. 1634fardel
Earliest quotation: a. 1634, W. Noye, The Complete Lawyer: “You must note, that two Fardells of Land make…”
The story
A clipped form of Middle English ferthendel (literally “fourth part”), equivalent to fourth + deal.
Every English word from Old English fēorþan
Today it means
noun A fourth part: a quarter of anything.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Old English fēorþan / fardel