- leap
- {{11}}leap (n.) c.1200, from O.E. hliep, hlyp (W.Saxon), *hlep (Mercian, Northumbrian) "a leap, bound, spring, sudden movement; thing to leap from;" common Germanic (Cf. O.Fris. hlep, Du. loop, O.H.G. hlouf, Ger. lauf); from the root of LEAP (Cf. leap) (v.). Leaps has been paired with bounds since at least 1720.{{12}}leap (v.) c.1200, from O.E. hleapan "to jump, run, leap" (class VII strong verb; past tense hleop, pp. hleapen), from P.Gmc. *khlaupan (Cf. O.S. hlopan, O.N. hlaupa, O.Fris. hlapa, Du. lopen, O.H.G. hlouffan, Ger. laufen "to run," Goth. us-hlaupan "to jump up"), of uncertain origin, with no known cognates beyond Germanic. Leap-frog, the children's game, is attested by that name from 1590s; figurative use by 1704.First loke and aftirward lepe [proverb recorded from mid-15c.]Related: Leaped; leaping.
Etymology dictionary. 2014.