Where does “lap” come from?

lap (Middle English) comes from Old English læppa, from Proto-Germanic lappô, from Proto-Indo-European leb- — to hang down loosely; lip; lick.

Ancestry of “lap”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Englishlæppaskirt of a garment; lobe
2Proto-Germaniclappôcloth, rag; rag, cloth; cloth; rag
3Proto-Indo-Europeanleb-to hang down loosely; lip; lick

Words derived from “lap”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European leb- →Every word from Proto-Germanic lappô →Every word from Old English læppa →