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minefield

noun
/ˈmaɪnˌfild/US

Etymology

From mine + field. Compare Saterland Frisian Mienenfäield (“minefield”), West Frisian mynfjild (“minefield”), Dutch mijnenveld (“minefield”), German Low German Minenfeld (“minefield”), German Minenfeld (“minefield”), Danish minefelt (“minefield”), Swedish minfält (“minefield”).

  1. derived from *pleh₂-✻ — “field, plain”
  2. inherited from *felþuz✻ — “field”
  3. inherited from *felþu✻
  4. inherited from feld
  5. inherited from feeld
  6. compounded as minefield — “mine + field”

Definitions

  1. An area in which land mines or naval mines have been laid.

  2. A matter or situation presenting multiple risks, dangers, complications or difficulties.

    • Be careful. Foreign property investments are a minefield, and some people have lost a lot of money.
    • Russian grammar can be a minefield.
    • Political minefield awaits Prayut government including threat from an old foe

  3. A pitch that has dried out and crumbled and on which the ball is bouncing and spinning…

    A pitch that has dried out and crumbled and on which the ball is bouncing and spinning unpredictably.

  4. ›+ 1 more definition

    1. A quiz that terminates when the test-taker answers a question incorrectly.

The neighborhood

Vish — recursive loop

No curated loop yet for minefield. Loops are being traced one word at a time while the ingestion pipeline matures.

sense glosses and etymology drawn from English Wiktionary · source · CC-BY-SA