Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “loads” come from?

Load comes from Middle English lode, from Middle English laden, from Proto-Germanic laidō, from Proto-Indo-European leyt-, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European kelh₂-.

loads (English): Lots, much, plenty, a great deal; plural of load;...

Definitions

  1. Lots, much, plenty, a great deal; plural of load;...

Ancestry of “loads”, step by step

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...
Every word from Proto-Indo-European lēy- →