English
ranch
Ranch comes from Spanish rancho ‘small farm, group of farm huts’.
- Spanishc. 1500–presentrancho‘small farm, group of farm huts’
- Englishearliest quotation 1899ranch
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Earlier history not traced here.
Lineage
- Spanishc. 1500–presentrancho‘small farm, group of farm huts’
- Englishearliest quotation 1899ranch
Earliest quotation: 1899, Stephen Crane: “There was some laughter, and Roddle was left free…”
The story
Recorded since 1808, farm sense since 1831.
Every English word from Spanish rancho
Today it means
noun A large plot of land used for raising cattle, sheep or other livestock.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Spanish rancho / ranch