lamb English · revision 10420

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=c. 725|origins=gem-pro *lambaz}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈlæm/ ''(UK)''; /ˈlæm/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English lomb, [[inh|ang|lamb|t=lamb]], lomb,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from Proto-Germanic *lambaz,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) source also of Dutch lam, German [[m|de|Lamm]], Old Norse lamb and Gothic lamb (in Gothic, sheep),^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) with no certain cognates outside Germanic.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The young of the sheep: about 725.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The Old English plural was lambru.^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) A young member of a flock, especially of the church, and a meek, gentle or innocent person, are from about 1000,^(OED 1989) and the Lamb of God, Christ, from before 1000.^(OED 1989) A term of endearment is from before 1553,^(OED 1989) and a simpleton, one who is cheated, especially in speculation, from 1668.^(OED 1989) The -b has probably been silent since the 13th century.^(Etymonline) The verb, to give birth to a lamb, is from 1611 (the 1610s).^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) ''Lambkin'' is from 1579, in Spenser, and ''lambskin'' from before 1400.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 725 – a young sheep.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1000 – a gentle person.^(OED 1989)

+ * before 1000 – the Lamb of God.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1579 – lambkin.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1611 – to lamb (verb).^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1668 – a dupe.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A young [[sheep]], or its meat.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A sweet, gentle or innocent person; a dear.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A person easily cheated, especially in financial dealings.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(the Lamb)'' Christ.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # Of a ewe, to give birth.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Of a shepherd, to tend ewes at lambing time.^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==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.^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}