Forst

See also: forst, först, and først

German

Etymology

From Middle High German vorst m, from Old High German forst m, probably from Frankish Latin forestis f. For this Latin noun, Italic, Germanic, and Celtic origins have been proposed. The Germanic theory derives it through Frankish from Proto-Germanic *furhiþą or *furhistą, derived from *furhō, whence German Föhre and English fir. In favour of this speaks the rare Middle High German variant fōreht, fōret n. Middle High German, unlike Old High German, also has other variants like vōrest, fōres(t), fōreis(t), all apparently neuter and with a long vowel, whereas vorst is invariably masculine. All details of the etymology remain unknown.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /fɔʁst/

• Audio

  (file)

Noun

Forst m (genitive Forstes or Forsts, plural Forste or Forsten)

1. (chiefly literary or specialist) a forest, at least enclosed, usually also cultivated

Usage notes

• In common speech, only derivatives and compounds of Forst are used. The usual word for any kind of forest is Wald.

Hypernyms

• Wald

Derived terms

• aufforsten
• Förster
• Forsthaus
• Forstwirtschaft
• Forstwissenschaft

Proper noun

Forst n (proper noun, strong, genitive Forsts)

1. A town in Baden-Württemberg, Germany.

Further reading

• “Forst” in Duden online