field
"play the field" (informal):
1. to vary one's activities.
2. to date a number of persons rather than only one:
He wanted to play the field for a few years before settling down.
field of study
Origin:
before 1000; Middle English, Old English feld; cognate with German Feld. British dictionary: Old English feld; related to Old Saxon, Old High German feld, Old English fold earth, Greek platus broad. —Dictionary.com. //
First Known Use of field: Noun: before the 12th century. Adjective: before the 12th century. Verb: 1798. History and Etymology for field: Noun, Adjective, and Verb: Middle English, from Old English feld; akin to Old High German feld field, Old English flōr floor — more at floor. —Merriam-Webster.
Sources: 1, 2.
1. to vary one's activities.
2. to date a number of persons rather than only one:
He wanted to play the field for a few years before settling down.
field of study
Origin:
before 1000; Middle English, Old English feld; cognate with German Feld. British dictionary: Old English feld; related to Old Saxon, Old High German feld, Old English fold earth, Greek platus broad. —Dictionary.com. //
First Known Use of field: Noun: before the 12th century. Adjective: before the 12th century. Verb: 1798. History and Etymology for field: Noun, Adjective, and Verb: Middle English, from Old English feld; akin to Old High German feld field, Old English flōr floor — more at floor. —Merriam-Webster.
Sources: 1, 2.