firth

¹

Also frith

[furth]

noun

Chiefly Scot.

1. a long, narrow indentation of the seacoast.

Firth

²

[furth]

noun

1. John Rupert, 1890–1960, English linguist.

firth

/ fɜːθ /

noun

1. a relatively narrow inlet of the sea, esp in Scotland

firth

1. A long, narrow inlet of the sea. Firths are usually the lower part of an estuary, but are sometimes fjords.

Other Word Forms

• Firthian adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of firth¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English ( Scots ), from Old Norse firth-, stem of fjǫrthr “fjord”

Word History and Origins

Origin of firth¹

C15: from Old Norse fjörthr _fiord

Example Sentences

A sheep spotted at the foot of steep cliffs on the shores of a Scottish firth has been dubbed Britain's loneliest sheep.

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A planned "hub" on the firth would make the hydrogen in a process using electricity generated by offshore and onshore wind farms.

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Before the coronavirus pandemic, the firth also had a growing cruise ship business.

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On the distant horizon was a cluster of faint street lights, a small town hunkered on the far side of the firth.

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The vessels later left the firth, sailing into the Atlantic.

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Related Words

• dock 
• inlet 
• pier 
• port 
• road 
• wharf