loin

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: C1 — Advanced

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun a cut of meat taken from the side and back of an animal between the ribs and the rump
  2. noun either side of the backbone between the hipbone and the ribs in humans as well as quadrupeds

Etymology

From Middle English loyne, from Old French loigne, from Vulgar Latin *lumbea, from Latin lumbus, of uncertain origin, possibly from Oscan-Umbrian *londwo- or Proto-Germanic *lundwuz, both ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *lendʰ- (“kidney, waist”). Cognate with Modern English lend (“loin”), Dutch lende, German Lende, Swedish länd (“haunch, loin”), Danish lænd, Proto-Slavic *lędvьje (Russian ля́двея (ljádveja)). Doublet of lend.

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