Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “lair” come from?

Lair is an English word of uncertain origin, possibly related to lehr through Proto-Indo-European legʰ-, though the semantic connection remains unclear.

lair (English): A place inhabited by a wild animal, often a cave...

Definitions

  1. A place inhabited by a wild animal, often a cave...

Ancestry of “lair”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishlairyTouchy, aggressive or confrontational, usually...
2EnglishleeryCautious, suspicious, wary, hesitant, or nervous...
3EnglishleerTo look sideways or obliquely; now especially...
4Middle Englishlereempty; Alternative form of lore
5Old Englishlārteaching; doctrine; lore, learning, science, art...
6Proto-West Germaniclaiʀu—
7Proto-Germaniclaizōteaching; lore; doctrine
8Proto-Germaniclaizijanąto teach
9Proto-Indo-Europeanloyséyeti—
10Proto-Indo-Europeanleysto trace; to track

Words derived from “lair”

  • laired
  • lairless
  • lairlike
  • lairize
Every word from Proto-Indo-European leys →