Where does “lot” come from?

Lot comes from Old English hlot, from Proto-Germanic hlutą, from Proto-Indo-European klew-, ultimately of unknown meaning.

lot (English): A large quantity or number; a great deal; A...

Definitions

  1. A large quantity or number; a great deal; A...

Ancestry of “lot”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishlot—
2Old Englishhlotportion, share, lot; choice, decision
3Proto-West Germanic*hlut—
4Proto-Germanichlutąlot, share; fate
5Proto-Indo-Europeanḱlew-to hear
6Proto-Indo-Europeanḱel-to cover; to incline

Words derived from “lot”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European ḱel- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European ḱlew- →Every word from Proto-Germanic hlutą →