erf

erf · noun¹

1. Proto-Indo-European*h₃erbʰ-
2. Proto-Germanic*arbiją
3. Proto-West Germanic*arbī
4. Old Englishierfe
5. Middle Englisherve
6. English todayerf

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. Compare odal and athel.

erf · noun²

1. Proto-Indo-European*h₃erbʰ-
2. Proto-Germanic*arbiją
3. Proto-West Germanic*arbī
4. Old Dutchervi
5. Middle Dutcherve
6. Dutcherf
7. English todayerf

Borrowed from obsolete Dutch erf (“hereditament, plot of land”). Doublet of erf above.

Words from the same roots