Etymology

lanyard

lan·yard
L1A1N1Y4A1R1D2

Today it means: A short rope used for fastening rigging, as a handle, etc. Full definition →

Middle English lainer ← Old French laniere
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The story

  1. Old French · derived fromlaniere
  2. Middle English · inherited fromlainer
  3. English todaylanyard

From late Middle English lainer, lainere, lanyer (“strap or thong used to fasten armour”) (with the ending modified in the 17th century under the influence of yard), from Old French laniere, lasniere (“thong, lash”) (see modern French lanière (“lanyard, strap”)). The French word is ultimately from Germanic, cognate with Old High German nestila (“band, headband; strap”) (modern German Nestel (“lace; strap; string”)), Old Norse nesta (“brace; fastener, strap”).

Words from the same roots

Middle Englishlainer all →

Old Frenchlaniere all →

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.