pasture

Where does the word "pasture" come from? It comes from Late Latin pastura, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

Pasture’s story begins in Late Latin: pastura meant “grazing.” From 'pascere', to feed. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as pasture. The same root as 'pastor'. It reached English by 1300s as pasture. 'pastures new' comes from Milton's poem Lycidas. Today, pasture means land covered with grass for grazing.

1. Stage 1 · Late Latin · ancient pastura "grazing", from 'pascere', to feed.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval pasture "grazing land", the same root as 'pastor'.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s pasture "grazing land", 'pastures new' comes from Milton's poem Lycidas.