terrain

Where does the word "terrain" come from? It comes from Latin terra, passing through French before entering English (1600s).

Terrain’s story begins in Latin: terra meant “earth, land.” Earth, land, the ground. By 1500s, the word had taken hold in French as terrain. Settled in French for a stretch of land, especially its physical features. It reached English by 1600s as terrain. A military term for ground as it affects fighting; 'all-terrain vehicle' dates from the 1960s. Today, terrain means a stretch of land, especially considered in terms of its physical features.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient terra "earth, land", earth, land, the ground.
2. Stage 2 · French · 1500s terrain "a stretch of land and its physical features", settled in French for a stretch of land, especially its physical features.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1600s terrain "the physical features of a stretch of land", a military term for ground as it affects fighting; 'all-terrain vehicle' dates from the 1960s.