lasso

Where does the word "lasso" come from? It comes from Latin laqueus, passing through Spanish before entering English (1800s).

Lasso’s story begins in Latin: laqueus meant “noose, snare.” By medieval, the word had taken hold in Spanish as lazo. Kept the meaning of a rope loop or snare. It reached English by 1800s as lasso. From Spanish 'lazo', noose; vaqueros taught roping to American cowboys. Today, lasso means a long rope with a running noose, used to catch livestock.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient laqueus "noose, snare", meaning "noose, snare".
2. Stage 2 · Spanish · medieval lazo "a rope loop, noose", kept the meaning of a rope loop or snare.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1800s lasso "a roped noose used to catch animals", from Spanish 'lazo', noose; vaqueros taught roping to American cowboys.