Where does “last” come from?

last (Middle Dutch) comes from Old Dutch last, from Proto-Germanic hlastuz, from Proto-Indo-European kleh₂-, from Proto-Indo-European kelh₂- — to beat; to break.

last (Middle Dutch): load, weight; task, duty, obligation; tax

Definitions

  1. load, weight; task, duty, obligation; tax

Ancestry of “last”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Dutchlast—
2Proto-Germanichlastuzload, burden, cargo, freight
3Proto-Indo-Europeankleh₂-to put; to lay out
4Proto-Indo-Europeankelh₂-to beat; to break

Words derived from “last”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European kelh₂- →