toft

English

Etymology

From Old Norse toft, from Proto-Germanic *tumþiz, from Proto-Indo-European *dem- (“to build”).

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -ɒft

Noun

toft (plural tofts)

1. A hillock.
2. A homestead, especially one on a hill.
   • 1840, George Poulson, The History and Antiquities of the Seigniory of Holderness‎^[1], volume 1, page 479:

     Rendering therefore annually to me and my heirs one halfpenny on the day of the nativity of St. John the Baptist for all suits services and demands and I the said Alice and my heirs the aforesaid toft and land with all their appurtenances as is before named to the said William and his heirs […] .

   • 2003, C. S. Knighton (editor), Calendar of Inquisitions Miscellaneous (Chancery): Preserved in the Public Record Office, Volume VIII: 1422—1485, page 73,

     Wynnemerus Preston lately held 2 cottages wasted of which the tofts are worth 2d. net yearly and another cottage wasted of which the toft is worth 6d. net yearly.

   • 2013, M. J. Hebditch, editor, Yorkshire Deeds‎^[2], volume 9, page 34:

     […] the lands of Peter de Sourdeuall in Esk, Brandesburton and Routh […] namely, half the capital messuage with the enclosure (ofuenam) as it is bounded and fenced, and a bovate of land which belonged to John, son of Emmot, and a toft which Henry, son of Walter, held, and a toft which Roger the carpenter (le carpentre) held, […] .

3. A messuage with right of common.

Derived terms

• toft and croft
• toftman

Danish

Etymology

From Old Danish toft, from Old Norse topt. Related to tomt, and Ancient Greek δάπεδον (dápedon).

Noun

toft c (singular definite toften, plural indefinite tofter)

1. (historical) fenced plot of land in an old village community, either the land the farm was on or the cultivated area adjacent to it

   Coordinate terms: vang, vænge

Usage notes

Still found in countless demonyms

Declension

Declension of toft

common gender	singular		plural
	indefinite	definite	indefinite	definite
nominative	toft	toften	tofter	tofterne
genitive	tofts	toftens	tofters	tofternes

References

• “toft” in Den Danske Ordbog

Faroese

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /tʰɔft/

Etymology 1

From Old Norse toft, from Proto-Germanic *tumftō.

Noun

toft f (genitive singular toftar, plural toftir)

1. an old foundation
2. ruin of a building

Declension

f2	singular		plural
	indefinite	definite	indefinite	definite
nominative	toft	toftin	toftir	toftirnar
accusative	toft	toftina	toftir	toftirnar
dative	toft	toftini	toftum	toftunum
genitive	toftar	toftarinnar	tofta	toftanna

Derived terms

• brunatoft
• húsatoft
• hústoft
• kirkjutoft
• neystatoft

Etymology 2

From Old Norse þofta, from Proto-Germanic *þuftōn, which is perhaps from the root of stjúp-. See also tofta.

Alternative forms

• tofta

Noun

toft f (genitive singular toftar, plural toftir)

1. (dialectal) the forward thwart

Declension

f2	singular		plural
	indefinite	definite	indefinite	definite
nominative	toft	toftin	toftir	toftirnar
accusative	toft	toftina	toftir	toftirnar
dative	toft	toftini	toftum	toftunum
genitive	toftar	toftarinnar	tofta	toftanna

Derived terms

• rangatoft
• rongutoft
• rættatoft

Swedish

roddbåt med tre tofter [rowboat with three thwarts]

Noun

toft c

1. a thwart (seat across a boat)

Declension

Declension of toft

		nominative	genitive
singular	indefinite	toft	tofts
	definite	toften	toftens
plural	indefinite	tofter	tofters
	definite	tofterna	tofternas

References

• toft in Svensk ordbok (SO)
• toft in Svenska Akademiens ordlista (SAOL)
• toft in Svenska Akademiens ordbok (SAOB)