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Where does the word "loch" come from? It comes from Scottish Gaelic loch, and was adopted directly into English (1500s).
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Where does the word "loch" come from? It comes from Scottish Gaelic loch, and was adopted directly into English (1500s).
Loch’s story begins in Scottish Gaelic: loch meant “a lake or sea inlet.” A lake, or a narrow arm of the sea. It reached English by 1500s as loch. Loch Ness and Loch Lomond are the best-known Scottish lochs. Today, loch means a lake or narrow sea inlet, especially in Scotland.
- Stage 1 · Scottish Gaelic · medieval loch "a lake or sea inlet", a lake, or a narrow arm of the sea.
- Stage 2 · English · 1500s loch "a lake, especially in Scotland", Loch Ness and Loch Lomond are the best-known Scottish lochs.