lane English · revision 4377

+ {{infobox|confidence=unknown|attested=971}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /leɪn/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|lane]],^(Barnhart 1988) [[inh|ang|lane]], lanu “narrow hedged-in road”,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) a common Germanic word of unknown origin,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(NODE 1998) related to Old Frisian lana, Middle Dutch lāne, Dutch laan “lane, avenue”, and Old Norse lǫn “oblong hayrick”, in modern use “row of houses”.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A narrow way between hedges or banks, or between houses: 971 in the OED and Barnhart.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988) It appears as a surname from 1176.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Any well-defined track, as a passage through ice at sea, is from the early 15th century,^(Etymonline) about 1420 in the OED.^(OED 1989) A passage between two lines of people is from 1525.^(OED 1989) The proverb ''it is a long lane that has no turning'' is from 1778.^(OED 1989) A runner's course in athletics is from 1909,^(OED 1989) and a strip of road for one line of vehicles from 1921 in American English^(Etymonline) and 1926 in the OED.^(OED 1989) In bowling a lane is an alley, from 1960.^(OED 1989) In parts of Scotland a lane was also the slow, smooth course of a meadow stream.^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 971 – a narrow road.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1176 – as a surname.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1420 – a track, as through ice.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1525 – a passage through a crowd.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1909 – an athletics lane.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1921 – a traffic lane.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1960 – a bowling lane.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A narrow [[road]], especially in the country.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A narrow passage between walls, hedges or fences.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A strip of road for a single line of vehicles.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A set course for ships or aircraft: ''a shipping lane''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A marked strip of a track or pool for one competitor.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A wooden floor down which bowling balls are rolled; an [[alley]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[bylane]]

+ * [[laneway]]

+ * [[multilane]]

+ * [[sea-lane]]

+ * [[air lane]]

+ * [[diamond lane]]

+ * [[fast lane]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[alley]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}