high-yield
UK[ˌhaɪ ˈjiːld]US[ˌhaɪ ˈjiːld]
adj
(of an investment) producing a high level of income or profit.
adj
(of a crop, soil, etc.) producing a large amount of the desired product.
Morpheme Breakdown
high
yield
high
great in amount/degree
yield
produce/give
Etymology
The compound 'high-yield' is a modern financial and agricultural term built from two native English roots. 'High' originates from the Old English hēah, a concept of great vertical extent or degree, which broadened to signify large quantities. 'Yield' stems from Old English gieldan, meaning 'to pay' or 'give', which evolved to denote the output or return from an investment or land. The literal combination, 'high give-back', logically evolved into its current abstract meanings, specifying investments with substantial returns or agricultural products with large outputs, directly linking the ancient senses of 'great amount' and 'production'.
Analysis
Structure: high (great in amount/degree) + yield (produce/give)
- high: From Old English hēah, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch hoog and German hoch. Functions as an adjective describing a large degree or amount.
- yield: From Old English g(i)eldan 'to pay, repay', of Germanic origin; related to Dutch gelden and German gelten. In this compound, it functions as a noun meaning 'the amount produced or returned'.
Examples
Investors were attracted to the high-yield bonds despite the associated risks.
This high-yield variety of corn has transformed the local agriculture.
The fund specializes in high-yield corporate debt.