Minefield
/ˈmaɪnˌfiːld/noun
An area planted with explosive mines, or a situation full of hidden dangers.
Did you know?The word became especially common in the 20th century as warfare turned ordinary land into invisible, weaponized space—proof that language can make terror sound almost ordinary.
Etymological Timeline
Old English
English
mīn
“possessive pronoun meaning “my””
Middle English
English
myne
“a mine, quarry, or excavation”
Late Middle English
English
feeld
“an open tract of land”
16th–17th Century
English
minefield
“an area containing mines; later, a hazardous area”
Modern English
English
minefield
“a dangerous area planted with explosive mines, or a situation full of hidden risks”