Definition of loaf

The origins of the word "loaf" can be traced back to Old English, around the 10th century. In Old English, the word was "hlāf," which means "lump" or "mass." The term was used to describe various types of food that were formed into lumps or balls, such as bread, cakes, and pies. The word "hlāf" eventually evolved into "loaf" in Middle English, around the 13th century. The spelling and pronunciation of the word changed over time due to various historical and linguistic factors, such as the Great Vowel Shift, which altered the pronunciation of long vowels in English, and the influence of French and Latin on English vocabulary. The meaning of "loaf" also expanded and narrowed over time. In Old English, the term was more general and could refer to any kind of food that was formed into a lump. In Middle English, "loaf" specifically began to refer to bread that had been kneaded and shaped into a compact mass, though the term continued to be used more generally to refer to other types of food in some contexts. Today, the word "loaf" is most closely associated with bread, particularly in the form of sliced bread that is packaged in a loaf shape. However, the term is still used more generally to describe other types of shaped food, such as meatloaf, pudding loaf, and cake loaf. Overall, the history of "loaf" reflects the evolution of English vocabulary and the ongoing, dynamic nature of language.