lad

nounyoung man

Synonyms for lad

noun young man

Antonyms for lad

Word Origin & History

c.1300, ladde "foot soldier," also "young male servant" (attested as a surname from late 12c.), possibly from a Scandinavian language (cf. Norwegian -ladd, in compounds for "young man"), but of obscure origin in any case. OED hazards a guess on Middle English ladde, plural of the past participle of lead (v.), thus "one who is led" (by a lord). Liberman derives it from Old Norse ladd "hose; woolen stocking." "The development must have been from 'stocking,' 'foolish youth' to 'youngster of inferior status' and (with an ameliorated meaning) to 'young fellow.'" He adds, "Words for socks, stockings, and shoes seem to have been current as terms of abuse for and nicknames of fools." Meaning "boy, youth, young man" is from mid-15c. Scottish form laddie, a term of endearment, attested from 1540s.

Example Sentences for lad

Aye, lad, and the plain things are always the hardest things to do.

But a sudden unaccustomed gust of affection swirled in the breast of the lad.

I tell you, lad, that I am all undone, like a fretted bow-string.

Yet, it was capable of meaning much concerning the nature of the lad.

Hark ye, lad Alleyne, to what I never told man or woman yet.

Wit, lad, is a catching thing, like the itch or the sweating sickness.

There could be no doubt concerning the depth of the lad's love for the girl.

So the lad seated himself, and placed his fiddle in position.

"Yes; that I will," said the lad; and his countenance cleared a little.

She had ceased to think about the lad while she was giving this explanation of an orphan to her son.

lad

Synonyms for lad

Antonyms for lad

boys

chap

chaps

kid

kids

lad

Synonyms for lad

Antonyms for lad

More words related to lad

boy

boys

chap

chaps

kid

kids