Village
/ˈvɪl.ɪdʒ/noun
A small settlement in the countryside, smaller than a town.
Did you know?“Village” comes through Old French from Latin villa, the word for a country house or estate, so its history is tied to property, status, and the old world of land ownership.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*weik-
“To settle, live in a community, or clan-based dwelling place.”
Latin
Latin
villa
“A country house, estate, or farmstead.”
Late Latin
Latin
villaticum
“Belonging to a villa; a rural estate or settlement associated with one.”
Old French
Old French
village
“A rural settlement or group of houses on an estate.”
Middle English
English
village
“A small rural settlement.”
Modern English
English
village
“A small settlement in the countryside.”