Where does “luf” come from?
luf (Middle English) comes from Old English lōf, from Proto-West Germanic lob, from Proto-Germanic lubą, from Proto-Indo-European lewbʰ-, from Proto-Indo-European lēw- — to sound, resound, sing out; to leave.
luf (Middle English): palm of the hand
Ancestry of “luf”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Old English | lōf | palm of the hand |
| 2 | Proto-West Germanic | lob | praise |
| 3 | Proto-Germanic | lubą | praise |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | lewbʰ- | to desire, covet, want; to admire, praise; to... |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | lēw- | to sound, resound, sing out; to leave |