Where does “loser” come from?
Loser is from Middle English loser, a word of uncertain origin and meaning.
loser (English): A person who loses; one who fails to win or...
Definitions
- A person who loses; one who fails to win or...
Ancestry of “loser”, step by step
loser traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English lose
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | lose | To cause to cease to be in one's possession or... |
| 2 | German | Nikolaus | a representation of St. Nicholas; the day of 6th... |
| 3 | Latin | Nīcolāus | — |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | Νικόλαος | Nicolas |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | λᾱός | people; men; the people |
| 6 | Proto-Hellenic | lāwós | people, crowd |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | leh₂wos | people |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | leh₂- | to bark, howl; to be concealed |
via Middle English loser
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | loser | — |