livelihood

The story

1. Old English · inherited fromlīflād“course of life, conduct”
2. Middle English · inherited fromliflode
3. English todaylivelihood

From Middle English liflode, from Old English līflād (“course of life, conduct”), from līf (“life”) + lād (“course, journey”), later altered under the influence of lively, -hood. Compare life, lode.

First known use, by meaning

• from 14th c. A means of providing the necessities of life for oneself (for example, a job or income).
• from 15th c. Property which brings in an income; an estate.
• 10th–17th c. The course of someone's life; a person's lifetime, or their manner of living; conduct, behaviour.