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Where does the word "lure" come from? It comes from Frankish luoder, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).
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Where does the word "lure" come from? It comes from Frankish luoder, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).
Lure’s story begins in Frankish: luoder meant “bait.” A Frankish word for bait, related to German 'Luder'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as loirre. A device of feathers to recall a hawk. It reached English by 1300s as lure. Fishing 'lures' date from the 1800s. Today, lure means something that attracts; to tempt.
- Stage 1 · Frankish · ancient luoder "bait", a Frankish word for bait, related to German 'Luder'.
- Stage 2 · Old French · medieval loirre "falconer's lure", a device of feathers to recall a hawk.
- Stage 3 · English · 1300s lure "falconer's device", fishing 'lures' date from the 1800s.