Provender

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈpɹɒvɪndə/

Definitions

1. A supply of food or provisions, especially for animals or for a journey
2. A collection of supplies, particularly food intended for animals or those embarking on a journey
3. Material such as food or supplies gathered for feeding animals or supporting a trip

Etymology: The word began as a Latin term for a payment, not a feed bag. Late Latin "praebenda" meant something to be furnished, an allowance, and in medieval Latin it could mean a pittance of food and drink. It was also the term for a prebend, the income a cleric drew from a church or cathedral to support himself. The same Latin root produced both the church stipend and the everyday word, which is why English keeps "prebend" as a separate, more formal relative. The sense narrowed as the word moved through Old French "provende", meaning allowance or provision, into Middle English "provendre". Over those centuries the general idea of a supply of food was whittled down to fodder for livestock, especially horses, and that is the meaning it carries today.

Synonyms: fodder, feed, forage, food, nourishment