lane

Pronunciation

• IPA: /leɪn/^[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Middle English lane,^[2] inherited from Old English lane, lanu “narrow hedged-in road”,^[3][2][4] a common Germanic word of unknown origin,^[3][2][5] related to Old Frisian lana, Middle Dutch lāne, Dutch laan “lane, avenue”, and Old Norse lǫn “oblong hayrick”, in modern use “row of houses”.^[3][2][6]

Earliest recorded meaning

A narrow way between hedges or banks, or between houses: 971 in the OED and Barnhart.^[7][2] It appears as a surname from 1176.^[2]

Semantic evolution

Any well-defined track, as a passage through ice at sea, is from the early 15th century,^[3] about 1420 in the OED.^[7] A passage between two lines of people is from 1525.^[7] The proverb it is a long lane that has no turning is from 1778.^[7] A runner's course in athletics is from 1909,^[7] and a strip of road for one line of vehicles from 1921 in American English^[3] and 1926 in the OED.^[7] In bowling a lane is an alley, from 1960.^[7] In parts of Scotland a lane was also the slow, smooth course of a meadow stream.^[8]

Timeline

• 971 – a narrow road.^[7][2]
• 1176 – as a surname.^[2]
• c. 1420 – a track, as through ice.^[7]
• 1525 – a passage through a crowd.^[7]
• 1909 – an athletics lane.^[7]
• 1921 – a traffic lane.^[3]
• 1960 – a bowling lane.^[7]

Modern meaning

Noun

1. A narrow road, especially in the country.
2. A narrow passage between walls, hedges or fences.
3. A strip of road for a single line of vehicles.
4. A set course for ships or aircraft: a shipping lane.
5. A marked strip of a track or pool for one competitor.
6. A wooden floor down which bowling balls are rolled; an alley.

Word family

• bylane
• laneway
• multilane
• sea-lane
• air lane
• diamond lane
• fast lane

Related words

• alley

References

1. ^ Jones, Daniel (2011), Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary, 18th ed., ed. Peter Roach, Jane Setter and John Esling, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
2. ^ a b c d e f g h Barnhart, Robert K. (1988), The Barnhart Dictionary of Etymology
3. ^ a b c d e f Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ Hoad, T. F., ed. (1986), The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology, Oxford: Clarendon Press
5. ^ Pearsall, Judy, ed. (1998), The New Oxford Dictionary of English, Oxford: Clarendon Press
6. ^ Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
8. ^ 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)