- fetch
- O.E. feccan, apparently a variant of fetian, fatian "to fetch, bring, to marry," probably from P.Gmc. *fatojanan (cf. O.N. feta "to find one's way," O.H.G. sih faggon "to mount, climb"), related to O.E. fot "foot." Variant form fet, a derivation of the older O.E. version of the word, survived as a competitor until 17c. Related: Fetched.
- fetching
- 1580s, "crafty, scheming," prp. adj. from fetch. The sense of "alluring, fascinating" is by 1880.
- fet
- “to fetch,” O.E. fetian, of uncertain origin.
- Stepin Fetchit
- type of stereotypical black roles in Hollywood, or in popular culture generally, from stage name (a play on step and fetch it) of popular black vaudeville actor Lincoln Theodore Perry (1902-1985), who first appeared in films under that name in "In Old Kentucky" (1927). Perry said he took the name from a racehorse on which he'd won some money.
- far-fetched
- also far fetched, farfetched, 1580s, "brought from afar," from far + pp. of fetch. An earlier form was far fet (1530s). Figurative sense is from c.1600.
- farm (n.)
- c.1300, from O.Fr. ferme "lease," from M.L. firma "fixed payment," from L. firmare "to fix, settle, confirm, strengthen," from firmus "firm" (see firm (adj.)). Sense of "tract of leased land" is first recorded early 14c.; that of "cultivated land" (leased or not) is 1520s. The verm, in its agricultural sense, is 1719. Original sense is retained in to farm out. Phrase buy the farm "die in battle," is at least from World War II, perhaps a cynical reference to the draftee's dream of getting out of the war and going home, in many cases to a peaceful farmstead. But fetch the farm is prisoner slang from at least 1879 for "get sent to the infirmary," with reference to the better diet and lighter duties there.