Hinterland
/ˈhɪn.tə.lænd/noun
The inland region lying behind a coast, city, port, or other center of activity.
Did you know?The word entered English from German in the late 19th century, especially through geography and discussions of the regions economically connected to ports.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Germanic
Proto-Germanic
*hindar
“Behind or farther back”
Old English
Old English
hinder
“Behind; located at the rear”
Old English
Old English
land
“Ground, territory, or a region”
19th Century
German
Hinterland
“The land behind a coast, settlement, or port”
Late 19th Century
English
hinterland
“The inland area connected with a coastal or urban center”
Modern English
English
hinterland
“A remote inland region or the area served by a particular center”