Meaning

noun the members of a business organization that owns or operates one or more establishments

verb become taut or tauter

verb make taut or tauter

originFrom Italian firma (“signature”), from firmare (“to sign”), from Latin firmāre (“to make firm, to confirm (by signature)”), from firmus (“firm, stable”). The contemporary sense developed in the 18th century simultaneously with German Firma (“business, name of business”). There are conflicting statements in the literature as to which of the two languages influenced which. Doublet of dharma and…

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 3.0