till etymology

Etymology

The word "till" has two distinct etymologies:

  • Old English: Derived from the Old English word "tillian," meaning "to cultivate or prepare the soil."
  • Norwegian: Derived from the Norwegian word "til," meaning "to" or "towards."

Meaning

In both its primary senses, "till" refers to a process of preparing or working the soil for agricultural purposes.

  • Agricultural Meaning: Till refers to the mechanical or chemical manipulation of the soil to improve its physical and chemical properties for crop growth. This involves breaking up compacted soil, incorporating organic matter, and managing soil fertility.
  • Navigation Meaning: Till is a nautical term used to indicate the direction towards which a boat or ship is moving. It can also refer to the tiller, which is the lever used to steer a boat.

Origin

  • Agricultural Sense: The agricultural sense of "till" originated in the 13th century from the Old English word "tillian," which in turn evolved from the Proto-Germanic root "*tillōn-," meaning "to cultivate."
  • Navigational Sense: The navigational sense of "till" is thought to have originated in the late 16th century from the Norwegian word "til," which was borrowed into Dutch and then into English.

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