lew

Sheep sheltering beside a stone wall. Shepherds formerly raised lews—structures of thatch and sticks—for the same purpose.

Meanings

Noun

Adjective

Verb

Interjection

  • Alternative of lo or look: a cry to look at something.

Origin

  • Image:First écu, issued by Louis IX of France in 1266.jpg|thumb|150px|A 1266 gold [[écu issued by Louis IX.]]
  • Image:Écu louis XII.jpg|thumb|150px|A 1498 gold [[écu issued by Louis XII.]]
  • From corruption of French louis, from Louis, presumably Louis IX or Louis XI, who issued gold écus.
  • From Middle English lew, lewe, from Old English hlēow, hlēowe, from Proto-Germanic *hlewaz, *hliwjaz, *hlēwaz, from Proto-Indo-European *ḱal(w)e-, *ḱlēw-. Cognate with Old Norse hlýr ("warm, mild"), ( > Danish ly ("lukewarm")), hlær, German lau, which are themselves akin to Old Norse hlé ("lee"), Danish læ ("shelter"). Compare lee.
  • Of uncertain etymology, but compare Old English ġelewed ("weakness, infirmity") and limlǣweo. Possibly related to Proto-Germanic *laiwą; compare Old Norse læ ("venom, bane").
  • Variant of lo (q.v.).
  • Variant of lue (q.v.).

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