means The full extent or spread between two limits — of distance, ability, variation, or sound — or the open land where animals roam freely.

from From Old French 'range' or 'renge,' meaning a row, rank, or line, from the verb 'rengier' (to arrange in a row), itself built on 'reng' — a row of soldiers — which is a cousin of English 'ring.' So the root idea is things lined up in order. From 'a row' came 'the space something spans,' then 'the distance a weapon could reach,' then 'the open ground a herd wanders.' The kitchen 'range' too: once a row of cooking fires set in a line.