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Where does the word "loft" come from? It comes from Old Norse lopt, and was adopted directly into English (1200s).
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Where does the word "loft" come from? It comes from Old Norse lopt, and was adopted directly into English (1200s).
Loft’s story begins in Old Norse: lopt meant “the air, an upper room.” The air, or an upper room reached by climbing. It reached English by 1200s as loft. Settled as the English word for an upper room or attic space. Today, loft means an upper room or open space under a roof, often used for storage or living.
- Stage 1 · Old Norse · medieval lopt "the air, an upper room", the air, or an upper room reached by climbing.
- Stage 2 · English · 1200s loft "an upper room or open space under a roof", settled as the English word for an upper room or attic space.