farrow
UK[ˈfærəʊ]US[ˈfæroʊ]
v
(of a sow) to give birth to piglets.
n
a litter of piglets.
Etymology
the word 'farrow' originates from the old english 'fearh', meaning 'young pig' or 'piglet'. this term is of germanic descent, likely related to the latin 'porcus' (pig) through a common proto-indo-european root. the semantic journey is direct, with the old english noun evolving into a verb for the act of birthing piglets and retaining its noun form for the resulting litter. its meaning has remained remarkably stable and specific to swine husbandry for over a millennium.
Analysis
the word is a simplex. it is of old english origin.
Examples
the sow is expected to farrow next week.
they were busy tending to the new farrow in the pen.
a healthy farrow is crucial for the farm's productivity.