Meadow

Meadow

Noun · /ˈmɛd.əʊ/

Definition

A piece of grassland, especially one used for hay or grazing; a field of grass and wild flowers; riverside or low-lying grassland that may be seasonally flooded.

Origin

From Old English mǣdwe, from Proto-Germanic *madwō, related to Old English mawan (to mow) and German Matte (meadow). The word is connected to the concept of mowing — the meadow being the field that is mown for hay. The Old English mǣd and mǣdwe both refer to grassland, with mǣdwe specifically suggesting the land where grass grows to be cut. Meadow has been an uninterrupted English word since the Old English period.