Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “furlough” come from?

Furlough comes from Dutch verlof, from Middle Low German verlōf, from Middle Low German verlōven, meaning to permit or allow.

furlough (English): A leave of absence or vacation; The documents...

Definitions

  1. A leave of absence or vacation; The documents...

Ancestry of “furlough”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Dutchverloffurlough, leave of absence; permission,...
2Middle Low Germanverlōffurlough, permission
3Middle Low Germanverlōvento allow
4Old Saxonlevianto leave; to give over
5Frankishlaibijanto leave; to leave behind
6Proto-Germaniclaibijanąto leave behind, to leave remaining
7Proto-Germaniclībanąto remain, to be left
8Proto-Indo-Europeanleyp-to stick; fat or sticky substance
9Proto-Indo-Europeanlēy-to leave, let; to want, desire; to let; leave...
Every word from Proto-Indo-European lēy- →