English Explanatory Dictionary

erf

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. Inheritance; patrimony.
  2. Stock; cattle.
noun
  1. A small inherited house-and-garden lot in a village or settlement.

Pronunciation

/ɜːf/ /ɝf/ En-us-erf.oga

Word forms

erf erfs erven

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₃erbʰ-der. Proto-Germanic *arbiją Proto-West Germanic *arbī Old English ierfe Middle English erve English erf From Middle English erve, erfe, from Old English yrfe, ierfe (“heritage, bequest, inheritance, property, inherited property, property that passes to an heir, cattle, livestock”), from Proto-West Germanic *arbī, from Proto-Germanic *arbiją (“heritage”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₃erbʰ- (“to change ownership”) (whence also *h₃órbʰos (“orphan”)). Cognate with Dutch erf (“inheritance, patrimony, ground, courtyard”), German Erbe (“heritage, legacy, inheritance”), Danish arv (“heritage, inheritance”), Swedish arv (“heritage, inheritance”), Gothic 𐌰𐍂𐌱𐌹 (arbi, “inheritance”), Latin orbus (“orphan”), Ancient Greek ὀρφανός (orphanós, “orphan”), Old English ierfa (“heir”). Related to orf and odal and athel.

Derived words

erfkin ervenholder
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