toft

noun

ˈtȯft How to pronounce toft (audio)
ˈtäft
British
: a site for a dwelling and its outbuildings
also : an entire holding comprising a homestead and additional land

Examples of toft in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Laxton had two, the Town Moor Common and the much larger Westwood Common, which together supported a hundred and four rights to common use, with each of these rights attached to a cottage or a toft of land in the village. Eula Biss, The New Yorker, 8 June 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'toft.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English, from Old Norse topt; probably akin to Greek dapedon floor, demein to build, pedon ground — more at timber, ped

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of toft was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near toft

Cite this Entry

“Toft.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/toft. Accessed 14 Oct. 2024.

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