English
loiter
Loiter comes from Middle English loitren, and goes back to Middle Dutch loteren.
- Middle Dutchc. 1150–1500loteren
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500loitren
- Englishearliest quotation 1834loiter
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Middle Dutchc. 1150–1500loteren
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500loitren
- Englishearliest quotation 1834loiter
Earliest quotation: 1834, Letitia Elizabeth Landon, London: Richard Bentley: “The dancing, which had been suspended, now recommenced with…”
Every English word from Middle Dutch loteren
Today it means
verb To stand about without any aim or purpose; to stand about idly.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Middle Dutch loteren / loiter