Etymology Map
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Forest

3 stages from Medieval Latin to English.

Today it means a large area covered mainly with trees

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

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

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.