Where does “gut load” come from?

gut load (English) comes from English load, from Middle English lode, from Old English lād, from Proto-West Germanic *laidu, from Proto-Germanic laidō, from Proto-Indo-European leyt-, from Proto-Indo-European lēy- — to leave, let; to want, desire; to let; leave...

gut load (English): To provide insects or other feeder animal with a nutrient-rich diet before they are fed to pets, such as reptiles and amphibians

Definitions

  1. To provide insects or other feeder animal with a nutrient-rich diet before they are fed to pets, such as reptiles and amphibians

Ancestry of “gut load”, step by step

gut load traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English load

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishloadA burden; a weight to be carried; A worry or...
2Middle Englishlodeguide
3Old Englishlādcourse, journey; way, street, waterway; leading,...
4Proto-West Germanic*laidu
5Proto-Germaniclaidōa leading; a way, course, route, direction
6Proto-Indo-Europeanleyt-to scratch; to leave, die; to go, go forth, die
7Proto-Indo-Europeanlēy-to leave, let; to want, desire; to let; leave...

via English gut

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishgutThe alimentary canal, especially the intestine;...
2Middle EnglishgutAlternative form of gutte
3Old Englishguttgut, entrail
4Proto-Germanicgut-
5Proto-Indo-Europeanǵʰewd-to pour
6Proto-Indo-Europeanǵʰew-to pour
Every word from Proto-Indo-European lēy-Every word from Proto-Indo-European leyt-Every word from Proto-Germanic laidō