lug

lug¹ to drag, carry with effort

Etymology

The verb is inherited from Middle English luggen (“to pull forcibly, drag”),^[6][1][7] also loggen,^[6][2] probably borrowed from a Scandinavian source.^{[3][6][1][2][8]} Dictionaries compare Swedish lugga (“to pull by the hair”), from lugg (“forelock, nap of cloth”),^{[3][9][10][11]} and Norwegian lugge (“to pull by the hair”), with lugg (“tuft of hair”).^[1][2][8] The OED notes that a form Old Norse *lugg would normally be related to a verb *lǫggva, from Proto-Germanic *lauwan, which is otherwise found only in Middle Dutch lauwen (“to snatch at, seize”).^[3] Skeat and Partridge also compared Old English lūcan (“to pull up weeds”).^[12][13]

Earliest recorded meaning

To pull or tug: before 1375, in an appendix to the Lay Folks Mass Book.^[3] The Middle English Dictionary's quotations begin about 1390, for pulling someone or something forcibly,^[6] and Barnhart dates the verb to about 1380, in the sense "move heavily".^[2]

Semantic evolution

In Middle English luggen meant to pull or drag, to mistreat, and of a ship, to move heavily; a dog could be called lug-tripe, one that drags its paunch.^[6] Gower used it of pulling someone by the ear or hair (1390), a sense now only dialectal.^[3][14][1] The modern sense of dragging or carrying something heavy is recorded from about 1540,^[3] and since 1652 it has been used colloquially of anything carried with exaggerated effort.^[3] From 1721 one could also lug in a topic, bringing it into a discussion where it does not belong,^[3][15] and lug out meant to draw one's sword or pull out a purse.^[3] The noun, a rough pull, is recorded before 1627,^[3][2] and in North America a lug or lug box is a crate for shipping fruit (1828).^[3][1] The noun luggage, first in Shakespeare, is formed from the verb.^[16][7] Green's Dictionary of Slang derives the American slang lug, a large stupid man (1887), from the idea of someone who has to be dragged along.^[17] In English dialect the verb was in general colloquial use for to drag, haul or carry with difficulty.^[18]

Timeline

• before 1375 – intransitive, to pull, tug.^[3] Barnhart dates the verb to about 1380.^[2]
• 1390 – to pull someone by the ear or hair, in Gower.^[3][14]
• c. 1400 – to move heavily and slowly.^[3]
• c. 1540 – to drag or carry something heavy with effort.^[3]
• before 1627 – noun, the act of lugging; a rough pull.^[3][2]
• 1721 – to bring in a topic irrelevantly.^[3]
• 1828 – a box or crate for shipping fruit (North America).^[3]

Meanings

Verb

1. To drag or carry something heavy with great effort: We lugged the suitcases up three flights of stairs.^[15][1][19]
2. To bring an unrelated topic into a conversation: usually lug in.^[15][3]
3. Of a sailing ship, to carry too much sail for the wind.^[15]
4. (dialect) To pull, especially by the ear or hair.^[1][3]

Noun

1. An act of lugging; a hard pull.^[15][1][9]
2. A box or crate for shipping fruit or vegetables.^[1][19][9]

Word family

• luggage
• luggable

lug² ear, projecting part

Etymology

The noun for the ear and things like it is inherited from Middle English lugge, a Scots word first recorded in 1495 for the earflap of a cap.^[1][2][3] The OED calls it of obscure origin.^[3] It suggests that the earflap sense may be older than "ear", as clothing words have passed to the parts of the body they cover, and that the word may then be Scandinavian, with a general sense "something that can be pulled or laid hold of".^[3] Etymonline, Barnhart and the Shorter Oxford likewise take it as probably or perhaps Scandinavian, comparing Swedish lugg (“forelock, nap of cloth”) and Norwegian lugg (“tuft of hair”).^{[8][2][9][11]} Merriam-Webster, Collins and Ayto derive it, perhaps, from the Middle English verb luggen (“to pull”), since an ear or handle is something that can be held and pulled.^[1][15][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

One of the flaps of a cap or bonnet covering the ears: 1495, in the accounts of the Treasurer of Scotland.^[3][2] Green's Dictionary of Slang quotes Skelton's "Scottishe lugges", ears, from 1523–4.^[17]

Semantic evolution

The sense "ear" is recorded from 1507,^[3] and in colloquial Scots lug entirely replaced the older word for the ear;^[3][8] it is still used for the ear in Scotland, northern England and informal speech.^[18][19][9] By 1624 it was used of the handle of a pitcher,^[3][2] and later of many projections by which an object can be lifted, hung or fixed,^[3][1] as in the lug bolt (1794)^[2] and the lug nut (1869).^[8] Burns used it for the side of a fireplace, the chimney corner (1786).^[3] In American slang, to put on lugs was to put on airs (1889), and to put the lug on someone, to press them for money (1929).^[3] A lug, a stupid or loutish man, is recorded by Etymonline from 1924^[8] and by the OED from 1931.^[3] The Shorter Oxford derives the lug of lugsail from this noun,^[9] while Collins considers either this word or lug "pole".^[15]

Timeline

• 1495 – the earflap of a cap or bonnet.^[3][2]
• 1507 – the ear.^[3]
• 1624 – the handle of a pitcher.^[3][2]
• 1786 – the side of a fireplace; the chimney corner.^[3]
• 1794 – a projecting part, as on a lug bolt.^[2]
• 1929 – to put the lug on, to press for money (US slang).^[3]
• 1931 – a lout or sponger (chiefly North American slang).^[3] Etymonline dates the sense "stupid fellow" to 1924.^[8]

Meanings

Noun

1. (chiefly Scottish, northern English or informal) An ear: He got a clip round the lug.^{[19][15][1][9]}
2. A part that sticks out like an ear, by which something is held, carried or fixed, such as a handle or a projection on a casting for a bolt.^[1][19][3]
3. (informal, chiefly North American) A clumsy or stupid man; a lout.^[19][3][8]
4. (Scottish) The earflap of a cap.^[1][3]

Word family

• lughole
• lug nut