loan

Where does the word "loan" come from? It comes from Old Norse lán, passing through Middle English before entering English (1540s onward).

Loan’s story begins in Old Norse: lán meant “that which is lent; a gift from a superior.” Brought by Viking settlers, it displaced the native Old English cognate 'læn'. By late 1100s, the word had taken hold in Middle English as lone. Replaced Old English 'lǣn', which survives in 'lend'. It reached English by 1540s onward as loan. Gained a verb use and settled into its modern financial sense. Today, loan means a sum of money or item lent, to be returned or repaid.

1. Stage 1 · Old Norse · medieval lán "that which is lent; a gift from a superior", brought by Viking settlers, it displaced the native Old English cognate 'læn'.
2. Stage 2 · Middle English · late 1100s lone "a thing lent, with expectation of return", replaced Old English 'lǣn', which survives in 'lend'.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1540s onward loan "money or property lent, usually with interest", gained a verb use and settled into its modern financial sense.