The word 'year' comes from the Old English word 'gear,' which means 'a period of time.' The concept of a year is based on the time it takes for the Earth to complete one orbit around the sun, which is approximately 365.24 days. The ancient Egyptians were the first to develop a solar calendar based on this cycle, and it was later adopted by other cultures. Today, the year is an important unit of time used in calendars, astronomy, and other fields.