Ferth

/fɜːrθ/ noun

Definition

An archaic or Scottish dialect word for a narrow arm of the sea, an estuary, or inlet of water.

Etymology

From Old Norse fjörðr (fjord), showing the Norse influence on Scottish and northern English vocabulary. It evolved through Scottish dialect into ferth, which became firth in standard English.

Kelly Says

Ferth/firth shows how languages evolved differently in isolated regions—Scottish and Scandinavian speakers preserved the Norse 'fjord' sound as 'ferth,' while this one word contains centuries of Viking trade and settlement patterns.

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