Where does “last” come from?

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

Ancestry of “last”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Englishhlæstload, freight, cargo
2Proto-Germanichlastuzload, burden, cargo, freight
3Proto-Indo-Europeankleh₂-to put; to lay out
4Proto-Indo-Europeankelh₂-to beat; to break
Every word from Proto-Indo-European kelh₂- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European kleh₂- →Every word from Proto-Germanic hlastuz →