Fardle
/ˈfɑːr.dəl/noun
A bundle, burden, or small parcel, especially in dialectal or archaic usage.
Did you know?Fardle appears to preserve an old connection between dividing something into four parts and describing a physical bundle or burden.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*kwetwóres
“Four; the ancient numeral underlying English words connected with fourfold division”
Old English
Old English
fēorða dǣl
“Fourth part; literally, “fourth share” or “one quarter””
Middle English
Middle English
ferdel
“A fourth part or quarter”
14th Century
English
fardel
“A quarter of something; later also a bundle or package”
Modern English
English
fardle
“A bundle, burden, or small parcel, chiefly archaic or dialectal”