The precise origin of Medieval Latin foresta

The precise origin of Medieval Latin foresta is obscure. Some authorities claim the word derives from the Late Latin phrase forestam silvam, denoting “the outer wood”; others claim the word is a latinisation of the Frankish *forhist, denoting “forest, wooded c

ountry”, and was assimilated to “forestam silvam” pursuant to the common practice of Frankish scribes. The Old High German forst denoting “forest”, Middle Low German vorst denoting “forest”, Old English fyrhþ denoting “forest, woodland, game preserve,

hunting ground” (English frith), and Old Norse fýri, denoting “coniferous forest”, all of which derive from the Proto-Germanic *furhísa-, *furhíþija-, denoting “a fir-wood, coniferous forest”, from the Proto-Indo-European *perkwu-, denoting “a coniferous or mountain forest, wooded height” all attest to the Frankish *forhist.

Uses of forest in English to denote any uninhabited and unenclosed area presently are considered archaic.[19] The Norman rulers of England introduced the word as a legal term, as seen in Latin texts such as the Magna Carta, to denote uncultivated land that was legally designated for hunting by feudal nobility (see Royal Forest).[19][20]