Where does “lots” come from?

Lots comes from Middle English lot, Old English hlot, Proto-Germanic hlutą, and Proto-Indo-European klew-, originally meaning to hear or be famous.

lots (English): plural of lot; A lot; a great deal; tons; loads;...

Definitions

  1. plural of lot; A lot; a great deal; tons; loads;...

Ancestry of “lots”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishlotA large quantity or number; a great deal; A...
2Middle Englishlot—
3Old Englishhlotportion, share, lot; choice, decision
4Proto-West Germanic*hlut—
5Proto-Germanichlutąlot, share; fate
6Proto-Indo-Europeanḱlew-to hear
7Proto-Indo-Europeanḱel-to cover; to incline

Words derived from “lots”

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