1306, "allowance paid each chapter member of a cathedral," from Anglo-Fr.
provendir, O.Fr.
provendier, from Gallo-Romance
*provenda, alt. (by influence of L.
providere "supply") from L.L.
præbenda "allowance, subsistence," from L.
præbenda "(things) to be furnished," neut. pl. gerundive of
præbere "to furnish, offer," from
præ- "before" +
habere "to hold" (see
habit). Meaning "food, provisions, etc." (esp. dry food for horses) is recorded from 1340.