Where does “loophole” come from?

loophole (English) comes from Middle English loupe, from Old Norse hlaup, from Old Norse hlaupa, from Proto-Germanic hlaupaną, from Proto-Indo-European klaup-.

loophole (English): A slit in a castle wall; today, any similar...

Definitions

  1. A slit in a castle wall; today, any similar...

Ancestry of “loophole”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishloupeopening in a wall; noose, loop
2Old Norsehlaupleap, jump; a run", "literally," "a leap
3Old Norsehlaupato leap, jump, spring
4Proto-Germanichlaupanąto jump forward, to leap
5Proto-Indo-Europeanklaup-—

Words derived from “loophole”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European klaup- →Every word from Proto-Germanic hlaupaną →Every word from Old Norse hlaupa →