arpent

[ ahr-puhnt; French ar-pahn ]

noun

, plural ar·pents [ahr, -p, uh, nts, a, r, -, pahn].

1. an old French unit of area equal to about one acre (0.4 hectare). It is still used in the province of Quebec and in parts of Louisiana.

arpent

/ arpɑ̃; ˈɑːpənt /

noun

1. a former French unit of length equal to 190 feet (approximately 58 metres)
2. an old French unit of land area equal to about one acre: still used in Quebec and Louisiana

Word History and Origins

Origin of arpent¹

1570–80; < Middle French < Latin arepennis half-acre < Gaulish; akin to MIr airchenn unit of area

Word History and Origins

Origin of arpent¹

C16: from Old French, probably from Late Latin arepennis half an acre, of Gaulish origin; related to Middle Irish airchenn unit of land measure

Example Sentences

In all the Island of Montreal the tax for each arpent of land was two liards and a half pint of wheat.

From Project Gutenberg

The measurement of the arpent varied from an acre to an acre and a half.

From Project Gutenberg

The corn-lands here rent for about fifteen livres the arpent.

From Project Gutenberg

The rents of the corn-lands, farmed for money, are about ten or twelve livres the arpent.

From Project Gutenberg

An arpent of ground for corn rents at from thirty to thirty-six livres.

From Project Gutenberg