forest

Where does the word "forest" come from? It comes from Medieval Latin forestis silva, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).

Forest’s story begins in Medieval Latin: forestis silva meant “outside wood.” Probably from 'foris', outside, meaning woodland outside the common land. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as forest. Royal hunting grounds under special law, not necessarily wooded. It reached English by 1200s as forest. The New Forest was created as such a royal preserve by William the Conqueror. Today, forest means a large area covered mainly with trees.

1. Stage 1 · Medieval Latin · medieval forestis silva "outside wood", probably from 'foris', outside, meaning woodland outside the common land.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval forest "royal hunting ground", royal hunting grounds under special law, not necessarily wooded.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1200s forest "a large area of woodland", the New Forest was created as such a royal preserve by William the Conqueror.