The word "croft" is spelled with a silent "f" in the English language. It is pronounced as /krɒft/ or "krahft" in IPA phonetic transcription. The word comes from Old English "croft," meaning a small, enclosed field. The spelling with the silent "f" is a remnant of Middle English orthography, where it was used to indicate a lengthened vowel sound. Today, this spelling convention is no longer used, but the silent "f" remains in certain words, such as "oft," "half," and "wharf."
A croft is a term primarily used in Scotland, Northern England, and Ireland to describe a small plot of agricultural land or a small agricultural holding. It refers to a piece of land that is typically smaller in size compared to a farm and is traditionally cultivated by agricultural tenants or crofters.
Crofts are usually found in rural areas, often in highland regions with mountainous terrain. These plots of land are commonly used for agriculture activities such as farming, grazing livestock, or horticulture. The agricultural activities on a croft are typically on a smaller scale than those on a full-scale farm.
Crofting is a unique land tenure system, particularly in Scotland, whereby crofters have a legal right to work and live on the land, which is often owned by a landlord. This system aims to support and protect small-scale farmers and rural communities.
The term "croft" also extends beyond its agricultural context and is occasionally used to refer to a small dwelling or cottage associated with a croft. In some cases, crofts may have additional buildings like barns or sheds to support the agricultural activities carried out on the land.
Overall, a croft represents a small-scale agricultural unit, encompassing both the land and the dwelling associated with it, and is an integral part of rural livelihoods in certain regions.
A small field attached to a house, or near it.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "croft" is of Old English origin, derived from the Old English word "croft" or "croft" itself. This term was used to refer to a small enclosed field or a small piece of land next to a house, usually with a dwelling or farmstead. It comes from the Proto-Germanic word "kroftaz", which means "enclosure", "fenced area", or "small field". This word is also related to the Old Norse word "kroft", which has the same meaning. The concept of a "croft" and its associated term have been present in the English language for over a thousand years.