lamb

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈlæm/ (UK); /ˈlæm/ (US)^[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Middle English lomb, inherited from Old English lamb (“lamb”), lomb,^[2][3][4] from Proto-Germanic *lambaz,^[2][3][4] source also of Dutch lam, German Lamm, Old Norse lamb and Gothic 𐌻𐌰𐌼𐌱 (lamb) (in Gothic, sheep),^[3][2][4] with no certain cognates outside Germanic.^[3][2][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

The young of the sheep: about 725.^[5][2]

Semantic evolution

The Old English plural was lambru.^[3][4] A young member of a flock, especially of the church, and a meek, gentle or innocent person, are from about 1000,^[5] and the Lamb of God, Christ, from before 1000.^[5] A term of endearment is from before 1553,^[5] and a simpleton, one who is cheated, especially in speculation, from 1668.^[5] The -b has probably been silent since the 13th century.^[3] The verb, to give birth to a lamb, is from 1611 (the 1610s).^[2][3] Lambkin is from 1579, in Spenser, and lambskin from before 1400.^[2]

Timeline

• c. 725 – a young sheep.^[5]
• c. 1000 – a gentle person.^[5]
• before 1000 – the Lamb of God.^[5]
• 1579 – lambkin.^[2]
• 1611 – to lamb (verb).^[2]
• 1668 – a dupe.^[5]

Modern meaning

Noun

1. A young sheep, or its meat.
2. A sweet, gentle or innocent person; a dear.
3. A person easily cheated, especially in financial dealings.
4. (the Lamb) Christ.

Verb

1. Of a ewe, to give birth.
2. Of a shepherd, to tend ewes at lambing time.

Word family

• lamblike
• lamby
• lamber
• lambkill
• lambkin
• lambskin
• ewe lamb

Related words

• sheep
• ewe

Usage notes

In Lancashire, the lamb was the part of a power loom to which the healds are attached.^[6]

References

1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Barnhart, Robert K. (1988), The Barnhart Dictionary of Etymology
3. ^ a b c d e f g Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ a b c d e Hoad, T. F., ed. (1986), The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology, Oxford: Clarendon Press
5. ^ a b c d e f g h i Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
6. ^ Wright, Joseph, ed. (1898–1905), The English Dialect Dictionary, 6 vols., Oxford: Henry Frowde; via EDD Online 4.0, University of Innsbruck (CC BY 4.0)