Etymology Map
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Lady

2 stages from Old English to English.

Today it means a woman of high social rank; a polite word for a woman

Where does the word "lady" come from? It comes from Old English hlǣfdīge, adopted directly into English (1500s).

1
Stage 1 of 2
hlǣfdīge
Old English · 700s-1000s
"mistress of a household"
'hlāf', loaf, plus a root meaning to knead, as in 'dough': the woman who made the household's bread
2
Stage 2 of 2
lady
English · 1500s
"woman of rank"
the 'ladybird' is named after Our Lady, the Virgin Mary
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Read the full story

Lady’s story begins in Old English: hlǣfdīge meant “mistress of a household.” 'hlāf', loaf, plus a root meaning to knead, as in 'dough': the woman who made the household's bread. It reached English by 1500s as lady. The 'ladybird' is named after Our Lady, the Virgin Mary. Today, lady means a woman of high social rank; a polite word for a woman.