middle-earth

noun

: the earth regarded as situated between the upper and lower regions or as occupying the center of the universe

Word History

Etymology

Middle English middelerthe, alteration (influenced by erthe earth) of midelerde, middelert, alteration (influenced by middel middle) of middenerd, from Old English middaneard, alteration (influenced by eard region, dwelling-place) of middangeard; akin to Old Saxon middilgard middle-earth, Old High German mittelgart, mittingart, Old Norse mithgarthr, Gothic midjungards; all from a prehistoric Germanic compound whose first constituent is akin to Old English midde mid and whose second constituent is akin to Old English geard yard, dwelling, land, world