Where does “landlady” come from?
Landlady comes from English land combined with lady, where land derives from Middle English and Old English land, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European lendʰ- meaning to stretch or extend.
landlady (English): A female landlord
Definitions
- A female landlord
Ancestry of “landlady”, step by step
landlady traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English lady
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | lady | The mistress of a household; A woman of breeding... |
| 2 | Middle English | lady | A woman with authority or leadership |
| 3 | Old English | hlǣfdīġe | bread-kneader; mistress of a household, wife of a... |
| 4 | Old English | hlāf | bread, loaf; bread, loaf, morsel; loaf, cake,... |
| 5 | Proto-West Germanic | hlaib | bread, loaf |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | hlaibaz | bread |