barren

Where does the word "barren" come from? It comes from Old French baraigne, passing through Anglo-French before entering English (1200s).

Barren’s story begins in Old French: baraigne meant “sterile.” An Old French word of uncertain, possibly Gaulish, origin. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Anglo-French as barain. Used of land and women. It reached English by 1200s as barren. 'barren' land dates from the 1300s. Today, barren means unable to produce offspring or crops.

1. Stage 1 · Old French · medieval baraigne "sterile", an Old French word of uncertain, possibly Gaulish, origin.
2. Stage 2 · Anglo-French · medieval barain "sterile", used of land and women.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1200s barren "sterile", 'barren' land dates from the 1300s.