fort English · revision 5120

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1450|origins=la fortis}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /fɔːt/, US /fɔːrt/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|forte]], [[bor|frm|fort]], a noun use of Old French fort “strong, fortified”,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) from Latin [[m|la|fortis|t=strong, brave]], from Old Latin forctus, of unknown etymology.^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) It is possibly from [[ine-pro|*bʰerǵʰ-|alt=*bhergh-|t=high, elevated]], whose derivatives refer to hills and hill-forts.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(AHD 2000) Hoad adds Italian forte as a source.^(Hoad 1986) It is related to [[fortify]], [[fortress]], [[force]] and [[forte]].^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A fortified place, a stronghold: the mid-15th century in Etymonline, 1435 in Barnhart, 1557–75 in the OED.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) Barnhart has an earlier forte “courage” probably before 1375.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ A strong position in a figurative sense is from 1568,^(OED 1989) and ''hold the fort'' from the 1590s.^(Etymonline) The lair of a wild animal is from 1653.^(OED 1989) In British North America and parts of the United States, a trading station, originally fortified, is from 1776.^(OED 1989) The verb, to fortify, is from 1559.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1435 – a stronghold.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1559 – verb, to fortify.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1568 – figurative.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1590s – ''hold the fort''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1776 – a trading post.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A strong building or place built to be defended against attack.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A permanent army post.^(AHD)

+ # ''hold the fort'': to take care of something while others are away.^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[fortress]]

+ * [[fortification]]

+ * [[fortify]]

+ * [[force]]

+ * [[forte]]

+ * [[fortitude]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}