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Where does the word "aloft" come from? It comes from Old Norse á lopti, passing through Middle English before entering English (1500s).
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Where does the word "aloft" come from? It comes from Old Norse á lopti, passing through Middle English before entering English (1500s).
Aloft’s story begins in Old Norse: á lopti meant “in the air.” 'in the air' or 'in the upper room', from 'lopt', air, loft. By 1200s, the word had taken hold in Middle English as on lofte. Borrowed in the Norse-speaking north of England. It reached English by 1500s as aloft. Sailors went 'aloft' into the rigging. Today, aloft means up in the air; overhead.
- Stage 1 · Old Norse · medieval á lopti "in the air", 'in the air' or 'in the upper room', from 'lopt', air, loft.
- Stage 2 · Middle English · 1200s on lofte "aloft", borrowed in the Norse-speaking north of England.
- Stage 3 · English · 1500s aloft "up high", sailors went 'aloft' into the rigging.