loaf

loaf
{{11}}loaf (n.) late 13c., from O.E. hlaf "portion of bread baked in a mass of definite form," from P.Gmc. *khlaibuz (Cf. O.N. hleifr, Swed. lev, O.Fris. hlef, O.H.G. hleib, Ger. Laib, Goth. hlaifs "bread, loaf"), of uncertain origin, perhaps connected to O.E. hlifian "to raise higher, tower," on the notion of the bread rising as it bakes, but it is unclear whether "loaf" or "bread" is the original sense. Finnish leipä, O.C.S. chlebu, Lith. klepas probably are Germanic loan words. Meaning "chopped meat shaped like a bread loaf" is attested from 1787.
{{12}}loaf (v.) 1835, American English, back formation from loafer (1830), which often is regarded as a variant of land loper (1795), a partial loan-translation of Ger. Landläufer "vagabond," from Land "land" + Läufer "runner," from laufen "to run" (see LEAP (Cf. leap)). But OED finds this connection "not very probable." Related: Loafed; loafing.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • loaf — Ⅰ. loaf [1] ► NOUN (pl. loaves) ▪ a quantity of bread that is shaped and baked in one piece. ● half a loaf is better than no bread Cf. ↑half a loaf is better than no bread ● use one s loaf Cf. ↑ …   English terms dictionary

  • Loaf — Loaf, n.; pl. {Loaves}. [OE. lof, laf, AS. hl[=a]f; akin to G. laib, OHG. hleip, Icel. hleifr, Goth. hlaifs, Russ. khlieb , Lith. kl[ e]pas. Cf. {Lady}, {Lammas}, {Lord}.] Any thick lump, mass, or cake; especially, a large regularly shaped or… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • loaf — loaf; loaf·er·ish; loaf·ing·ly; loaf·er; …   English syllables

  • Loaf — Loaf, v. t. To spend in idleness; with away; as, to loaf time away. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • loaf — loaf1 [lōf] n. pl. loaves [lōvz] [ME lof < OE hlaf, akin to Ger laib, OHG hlaib, ON hleifr, Goth hlaifs] 1. a portion of bread baked in one piece, commonly of oblong shape and in a size convenient for table use 2. any mass of food shaped… …   English World dictionary

  • Loaf — Loaf, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Loafed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Loafing}.] [G. laufen to run, Prov. G. loofen. See {Leap}.] To spend time in idleness; to lounge or loiter about. Loafing vagabonds. W. Black. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • loaf — [n] block of something bun, cake, cube, dough, lump, mass, pastry, roll, slab, twist; concepts 436,457,460,461 loaf [v] be idle, lazy be inactive, be indolent, be slothful, be unoccupied, bum*, bum around*, dally, dillydally*, dream, drift, evade …   New thesaurus

  • loaf — index procrastinate Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • loaf — vb *idle, lounge, loll, laze Analogous words: rest, repose, relax (see corresponding nouns at REST): *saunter, stroll, amble Contrasted words: work, labor, toil, travail (see corresponding nouns at WORK) …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • loaf — The plural form of the noun is loaves; the third person singular of the verb is loafs …   Modern English usage

  • loaf|er — «LOH fuhr», noun. 1. a person who loafs; idler. 2. a) a shoe resembling a moccasin, but with sole and heel stitched to the upper. b) Loafer, a trademark for such a shoe …   Useful english dictionary

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