Advertisement
terra firma (n.)
c. 1600, "part of the Italian mainland ruled by Venice," from Modern Latin terra firma, literally "firm land," from Latin terra "earth, land" (from PIE root *ters- "to dry") + firma, fem. of firmus "strong, steadfast" (from suffixed form of PIE root *dher- "to hold firmly, support"). Meaning "the land" (as distinct from "the sea") is first attested 1690s. Hakluyt and Sandys also used English firm (n.) to mean "the firm land, the mainland, terra firma."
updated on January 28, 2018
Advertisement
Advertisement
Definitions of terra firma from WordNet
Dictionary entries near terra firma
ternary
Terpsichore
terpsichorean
terr
terra
terra firma
terra incognita
terrace
terra-cotta
terrain
terran