fardel

English

Etymology 1

A corruption of Middle English ferthe del (literally “fourth part”), equivalent to fourth +‎ deal. Cognate with Dutch vierendeel (“a fourth part, quarter”), German Viertel (“a quarter, fourth”), Danish fjerdedel (“a quarter”), Swedish fjärdedel (“a fourth, quarter”).

Alternative forms

• farthel, farl

Noun

fardel (plural fardels)

1. A fourth part; a quarter.

   a fardel of land

Etymology 2

From Middle English fardel, from Old French fardel (“pack, bundle”), from Spanish fardel, diminutive of fardo (“pack, bundle”), from Arabic  (fardah, “a package”).

Alternative forms

• fardle

Noun

fardel (plural fardels)

1. (obsolete) a bundle or burden
   • circa 1599, Shakespeare, Hamlet, “To be, or not to be”:

     Who would fardels bear

     to grunt and sweat under a weary life...

Anagrams

• Alfred
• flared