Evolution of The Word
The Proto-Slavic word *gordъ means a "fenced area", compare to Ukrainian horodyty, Czech ohradit, Russian ogradit, Croatian/Serbian ograditi and Polish ogradzać meaning "fence away". It ultimately finds its root in the Proto-Indo-European language; cognates are many English words related to enclosure: "yard", "girdle," and "court." In some modern Slavic languages, *gordъ has evolved into words for a "garden" (likewise a fenced area, from which Latin hortus, and English horticulture and orchard): the Ukrainian ґород (gorod) and город (horod), the Bulgarian and Macedonian градина (gradina), the Polish ogród, the Slovak záhrada, the Czech zahrada, the Russian огород (ogorod). In some Slavic languages, *gord has evolved into a word for "town" or "city": the Russian gorod, the ancient Pomeranian and modern Kaszubian gard, the Bulgarian, Croatian, Macedonian and Serbian град, grad. The Slovak and Czech hrad and Slovene grad have evolved to mean "fortified castle." The Polish gród and Ukrainian horod retain their original meaning of an "ancient fortified settlement."
Polish word podgrodzie meant settlement near a town (Slavic prefix pod- means "under" or "below", equivalent of Latin sub-) because in fact gród was built at hill's top frequently. It survived to these days in names of several villages (i.e. Podgrodzie, Subcarpathian Voivodeship) and town's districts (i.e. district of Olsztyn). Cf also Puttgarden in Wagria and Putgarten on Rügen in Germany.
The names of many Central and Eastern European cities hark back to their past as gords. Some of them are in countries which used to be, but no longer are, inhabited mostly by Slavic-speaking peoples. Examples include: Novgorod, Gorodets, Volgograd (Russia); Hrodna, Davyd-Haradok, Haradok, Navahrudak (Belarus); Uzhhorod, Horodok, Horodysche (Ukraine); Hradec Králové, Vyšehrad (Czech Republic); Stargard Szczeciński, Starogard Gdański, Nowogard, Ogrodzieniec, Grodzisk Mazowiecki (Poland); Dravograd, Gornji Grad, many places named Gradišče and Podgrad (Slovenia); Biograd, Stari Grad (Croatia); Visegrád (Hungary); Belgrade (Beograd), Dimitrovgrad, Veliko Gradište (Serbia); Danilovgrad (Montenegro); Blagoevgrad, Asenovgrad, Razgrad (Bulgaria); Gradsko (Republic of Macedonia); Novohrad region, many places named Hradisko (Slovakia) or Hradiště (Czech Republic); Graz (Austria); Gartz, Stuttgart (Germany); Pogradec (Albania), Višegrad (Bosnia and Herzegovina).
In Ancient Iran, Gerd had the same meaning. This word changed to Jerd after the Arab invasion. Burugerd or Borujerd is a city in the West of Iran.
Read more about this topic: Gord (archaeology)
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