ˈärpənt, -ˌpänt noun
also ar·pen -_pən, -ˌpäⁿ
( -s )
Etymology: Middle French arpent, from (assumed) Vulgar Latin arependis, probably alteration of Latin arepennis, from Gaulish; akin to Middle Irish airchenn, a measure of land area; both from a prehistoric Celtic compound whose first and second constituents respectively are akin to Gaulish are by, in front of (akin to Old High German furi for, in front of) and to Old Irish cenn head, end, Welsh pen — more at for
1. : any of various old French units of land area ; especially : a unit still used in certain French sections of Canada and the United States equal to about 0.85 acre
2. : a unit of length equal to one side of a square constituting one arpent