An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

1. The surface of the Earth; soil.
   
2. The foundation or basis on which a belief or action rests.

Etymology (EN): From O.E. grund “foundation, ground, surface of the earth,” from P.Gmc. *grundus (cf. Du. grond, Ger. Grund “ground, soil, bottom”).

Etymology (PE): 1) Zamin, variant
zami “earth, ground,” from Mid.Pers. zamig “earth;”
Av. zam- “the earth;” cf. Skt. ksam; Gk. khthôn, khamai “on the ground;” L. homo “earthly being” and humus “the earth” (as in homo sapiens or homicide, humble, humus, exhume);
PIE root *dh(e)ghom “earth.”
2) Zaminé, from zamin + nuance suffix -é.