feedlot
UK[ˈfiːdlɒt]US[ˈfiːdlɑːt]
n
An area or building where livestock are fed and fattened before slaughter.
Morpheme Breakdown
feed
lot
feed
lot
Etymology
The compound noun "feedlot" is a modern American English formation from the mid-20th century, created by directly combining two native English words. "Feed" derives from the Old English verb 'fēdan', meaning "to nourish or give food," which is related to the noun 'fōda' (food). "Lot" originates from Old English 'hlot', referring to an object used in deciding shares, which evolved to mean an allotted portion, particularly of land. The term's logic is transparently literal: a "feedlot" is a specific plot of land designated for the purpose of feeding animals intensively, reflecting the industrialized agricultural practices of the modern era.
Analysis
Structure: feed + lot
- feed (Old English 'fēdan'): The act of giving food.
- lot (Old English 'hlot'): A portion of land; a plot.
Examples
The cattle spent their final months in a crowded feedlot.
Environmentalists are concerned about the waste runoff from large feedlots.
The price of grain directly impacts the operating costs of a feedlot.