Compost
/ˈkɒm.poʊst/noun
A mixture of decaying organic matter used to enrich soil.
Did you know?The word ultimately comes from Latin *compositus*, a past participle meaning “put together” or “arranged,” so the modern garden term is literally built from the language of combining pieces into one mass.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
compositus
“put together; arranged; composed”
Old French
Old French
compost
“mixture; compound; manure”
Middle English
English
compost
“manure; fertilizer mixture”
Modern English
English
compost
“decaying organic material used to enrich soil”