Word origin
[1715–25; contr. of
fardel a three-cornered cake, orig., the 4th part of a round cake (ME
ferdell, repr. OE
fēortha dǣl fourth part)
]This word is first recorded in the period 1715–25. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: anesthesia, dugout, federation, portfolio, screening