Etymologically
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lâcher

Etymology and origin of the French word lâcher

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Confidence
Established
Formation
Inherited
First attested
c. 1100, Chanson de Roland (lascier)
Inherited from
Latin *lassico via Old French
Ultimate origin
Latin (laxus)

Pronunciation

  • IPA: /la.ʃe/[1]
  • IPA: /lɑ.ʃe/[1]

Forms

lâcher[1] Old French lascier (1080), laschier, lascher (1256); spelled lascher by the Académie in 1694 and 1718, lâcher afterwards.[2][3][4]

Etymology

It is inherited from Old French laschier, inherited from Vulgar Latin *lassicō, a dissimilated form of laxicō (“to loosen”), a frequentative of laxō (“to widen, loosen, relax”), from laxus (“loose, slack”).[2][5][6][7][8] Bloch and Wartburg explain the change by dissimilation of the two /k/ sounds of “laksikare”, “laxāre” itself gave laisser.[5] The Petit Robert relates “laxus” to English slack, German schlack and Ancient Greek λαγώς (lagṓs, “hare”), “with drooping ears”.[7]

Cognate with Italian lascare and Spanish lascar.[7]

Earliest recorded meaning

In the Chanson de Roland (about 1100) a knight spurs his horse and slackens the reins: son cheval broche, si li lasche la resne.[9][3]

Semantic evolution

The first sense, “to let go by loosening what holds”, gave figurative lâcher les frains (about 1235), later lâcher la bride “to give free rein”.[2][3] It meant to free someone (from a vow, 1160–74; a prisoner, 1468), to unleash a falcon (about 1200) or dogs (1552), to let fall from one's hands (1538), and to fire a weapon (1530).[3][2] Lâcher prise (1560) and lâcher pied (before 1600) are figurative.[2][3]

From about 1580 it was used of speech: lâcher une parole (Montaigne), le mot en est lâché (Corneille, 1644), lâcher le morceau (1878).[3][2] It also meant to let out bodily fluids: lâcher des larmes (1552), lâcher un vent (1690).[2] From before 1544 it meant to abandon someone, familiarly to drop a partner (1808), and in sport to outdistance (1884); in the 1980s lâche-moi les baskets “leave me alone” was coined.[3][2]

Timeline

  • c. 1100 – Lasche la resne, Chanson de Roland.[9]
  • c. 1235 – Laschier les frains.[3]
  • 1468 – To release a prisoner.[3]
  • 1530 – Of a firearm.[3]
  • 1538 – To let fall.[3]
  • c. 1580 – Lâcher une parole, Montaigne.[3]
  • 1873 – The noun un lâcher.[6]
  • 1884 – To outdistance (in sport).[2]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To release, let go of: lâcher la corde, lâcher prise.[1][2]
  2. To loosen, slacken: lâcher la bride.[3][9]
  3. To drop, let fall: lâcher un verre.[3][2]
  4. To set free, release; to unleash: lâcher les chiens.[2][3]
  5. To let slip (a word): lâcher un juron, lâcher le morceau, to spill the beans.[2][1]
  6. (familiar) To abandon, drop (someone); to leave behind (competitors).[1][2]
  7. (intransitive) To give way, break: la corde a lâché; to chicken out.[1]
  8. Lâcher pied: to give ground.[2]

Word family

  • lâche
  • lâcheté
  • lâcheur
  • lâchage
  • relâcher
  • relâche
  • relâchement

Usage notes

Un lâcher (1873) is a release: un lâcher de ballons, de pigeons.[6][7]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
  4. ^ Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
  5. ^ a b Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
  6. ^ a b c Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
  7. ^ a b c d Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  8. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 5, 195b
  9. ^ a b c Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette

Related etymologies

Cite this entry

“Lâcher.” Etymologically, 18 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/fr/l%C3%A2cher. Accessed 18 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·