lumber

The story

Exact origin unknown. The earliest recorded reference for the noun was to heavy, useless objects such as old, discarded furniture. Perhaps from the verb lumber in reference to meaning "awkward to move"; Online Etymological Dictionary thinks this may derive from the same root as lame. Possibly influenced by Lumbar, an obsolete variant of Lombard, the Italian immigrant class known for being pawnbrokers and money-lenders in early England. Compare English lumpish.

First known use, by meaning

• from 17th c. Wood sawn into planks or otherwise prepared for sale or use, especially as a building material.
• from 16th c. Old furniture or other items that take up room, or are stored away.
• from 17th c. Useless or cumbrous material.
• 17th–18th c. A pawnbroker's shop, or room for storing articles put in pawn; hence, a pledge, or pawn.