loft

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: C1 — Advanced

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun floor consisting of a large unpartitioned space over a factory or warehouse or other commercial space
  2. noun floor consisting of open space at the top of a house just below roof; often used for storage
  3. noun (golf) the backward slant on the head of some golf clubs that is designed to drive the ball high in the air

Etymology

From Middle English lofte (“air, sky, upper region, loft”), from Old English loft, (doublet of native Old English lyft) of North Germanic origin, from Old Norse lopt (“upper chamber, attic, region of sky, air”), from Proto-Germanic *luftuz (“air, sky”). Akin to Scots lift (“air; sky; firmament”), Dutch lucht (“air”), German Luft (“air”), Old English lyft (“air”). Doublet of lift and luft. Related to aloft. Cognate with Scots loft, laft (“loft”), Irish lochta (“loft”).

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