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Etymology
Dictionary
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Origin and Etymology of the word
FATHOM.
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From An Etymology
Dictionary of the English Language, by Walter W. Skeat, 1893 |
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FATHOM,
a measure of 6 feet. (E.) Properly, the breadth reached to by
the extended arms. M.E. fadom, Chaucer, C. T. 2918; veðme,
Layamon, 27686.—A.S. fæðm, the space reached by the extended arms,
a grasp, embrace; Grein, i. 268. + Du. vadem, a fathom. + Icel. faðmr, a fathom.
+ Dan. favn, an embrace, fathom. + Swed. famn, embrace, bosom, arms. + G.
faden
(O.H.G. fadum), a fathom, a thread. Cf. Lat. patere, to lie open,
extend; patulus, spreading.—✔PAT,
to extend; Fick, i. 135. See Patent.
Der. fathom, vb. (A.S. fæðman, Grein); fathom-able,
fathom-less. [†]
ADDENDA
M.E. fadom in Tyrwhitt's
spelling; fadme would be better; the Six-text edition has the readings fadme,
fademe, fadmes, faþome. For the d sound, cf. M.E. fader, father.
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| Etymology
Dictionary Index |
| A, B,
C, D, E,
F, G, H,
I, J, K,
L, M, N,
O, P, Q,
R, S, T,
U, V, W,
X, Y, Z
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| Key |
| Arab.=Arabic. |
| A.S.=Anglo
Saxon. |
| Bavar.=Bavarian |
| Bohem.=Bohemian. |
| C.=Celtic,
used as a general term for Irish, Gaelic, Welsh, Breton,
Cornish, &c. |
| Corn.=Cornish. |
| Dan.=Danish. |
| Du.=Dutch |
| E.=English. |
| E.E.=Early
English. |
| Europ.=European. |
| F.=French. |
| G.=German. |
| Gk.=Greek. |
| Goth.=Gothic. |
| Icel.=Icelandic. |
| Ital.=Italian. |
| L. or
Lat.=Latin. |
| Lith.
& Lithuan.=Lithuanian. |
| M.E.=Middle
English. |
| M.F.=Middle
French |
| M.H.G.=Middle
High German. |
| Norw.=Norwegian. |
| O.F.=Old
French. |
| O.H.G.=Old
High German. |
| Pers.=Persian. |
| Port.=Portuguese. |
| Scand.=Scandinavian,
used as a general term for Icelandic, Swedish, Danish,
&c. |
| Sc.=Scottish. |
| Skt.=Sanskrit. |
| Span.=Spanish. |
| Swed.=Sweish. |
| Teut.=Teutonic |
| Turk.=Turkish. |
| W.=Welsh. |
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