Where does “lady” come from?

Lady derives from Middle English lady, from Old English hlǣfdīġe, a compound of Old English hlāf (loaf of bread) and an element meaning kneader, ultimately from Proto-Germanic hlaibaz.

lady (English): The mistress of a household; A woman of breeding...

Definitions

The mistress of a household; A woman of breeding...

Ancestry of “lady”, step by step

Step	Language	Word	Meaning
1	Middle English	lady	lady
2	Old English	hlǣfdīġe	bread-kneader; mistress of a household, wife of a...
3	Old English	hlāf	bread, loaf; bread, loaf, morsel; loaf, cake,...
4	Proto-West Germanic	hlaib	bread, loaf
5	Proto-Germanic	hlaibaz	bread

Words derived from “lady”

ladyship
landlady
ladylike
unladylike
milady
ladybird
saleslady
ladybug
ladylove
ladyhood
ladybeetle
ladyish
lakin
ladyboy
ladyism
charlady
ladyfinger
ladyfish
ladylikeness
ladyless
ladyfolk
newslady
ladykilling
snowlady

Every word from Proto-Germanic hlaibaz →

lady — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer