Etymology Map
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Barren

3 stages from Old French to English.

Today it means unable to produce offspring or crops

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

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

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.