Latin words from Old English
5 Latin words with Old English in their history, whether borrowed directly or passed on through other languages.
acra
It is borrowed from Old English æcer (“field, acre”), the English measure of ploughland. Köbler traces the Old English word to Proto-Germanic *akraz (“field”) and Proto-Indo-European *h₂eǵros…
billa
1. The billhook is borrowed from Old English bill (“sword, chopping tool”), from Proto-Germanic *bili-, a word for cutting and chopping weapons. Etymonline connects it, with some doubt, with…
firma
The origin is disputed. It is, according to the DMLBS and Niermeyer, borrowed from Old English feorm (“food, provision, feast”); Niermeyer and Köbler add that its sense was influenced by firmus…
geldum
It is borrowed from Old English geld (“payment, tribute”), beside Middle English ȝeld. Köbler traces it further to Proto-Germanic *geldą (“payment, reward”).
hulca
The DMLBS takes it as borrowed from Old English hulc and Middle English hulk, and Niermeyer and Köbler also call it Germanic; Köbler adds Proto-Germanic *hulka, which he glosses as perhaps “hollow”…