Etymology Explorer › Middle English

Where does “las” come from?

las (Middle English) comes from Old French laz, from Old French lacier, from Latin laqueo, from Latin laqueus, from Proto-Italic lakw- — to ensnare.

Ancestry of “las”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Frenchlazlace
2Old Frenchlacierto lace
3Latinlaqueodative singular of laqueus; ablative singular of...
4Latinlaqueusnoose; snare, gin, trap
5Proto-Italiclakw-to ensnare

Words derived from “las”

  • lace
  • necklace
  • lacy
  • lacework
  • unlace
  • bootlace
  • lacelike
  • lacewing
  • lacemaking
  • lacemaker
  • belaced
  • laceless
  • laceman
  • lacer
  • staylace
  • lacebark
  • lacery
  • lacewood
  • laciness
  • lacily
  • relace
  • laceworks
  • needlelace
  • laceleaf
Every word from Proto-Italic lakw- →