lace

Where does the word "lace" come from? It comes from Latin laqueus, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).

Lace’s story begins in Latin: laqueus meant “a noose, a cord.” A noose, a snare, related to a cord used for tying. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as las. Carried into French for a cord or tie, later ornamental openwork fabric. It reached English by 1200s as lace. Settled as the English word for delicate openwork fabric, or a fastening cord. Today, lace means a delicate fabric made of patterned openwork, or a cord used for fastening.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient laqueus "a noose, a cord", a noose, a snare, related to a cord used for tying.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval las "a cord, a tie", carried into French for a cord or tie, later ornamental openwork fabric.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1200s lace "delicate ornamental fabric, or a fastening cord", settled as the English word for delicate openwork fabric, or a fastening cord.