lock
.
Searchable Lemmata: loca (OE), lok (ME), lock (MdE).
Alternate Forms: lockes, lok, loke, lokes, lokkes, lokys.
Definitions and Defining Citations:
1(n.)
Raw Material;
in general, a tuft or individual portion of hair. In English, mostly used to refer to human hair; but an Old English feminine form loca is found in glosses equated with Latin floccus 'lock of wool'. Middle English lok was also used in the same way, particularly in the phrases 'wool lock, lock of wool'. Also used in Latin contexts in the plural. Particularly refers to inferior-quality wool from the lower parts of a sheep.(ante 1100 still in current use)
3. [4.360a] ... Be hit ordeined, yat no manere straungier ne do forsse, clakke, ne berde no manere Wolle to carien oute of yis Roiaume ... Be hit ordeined yat ... no manere Wolle pakker ... atte ye wyndyng of his Wolle, ne yerynne to putte lokkys, pellewolle, terre stone, sond, erthe, ne gresse, ne noon oyer filthe ... [4.360b] The Wevers ... taken and have taken before yis tyme in common usage and custume, what tyme yat yei have wroght a Clothe almost to ye end, to kitte away to yair singuler avauntage, ye yerne yat leveth unwoven and callen hit Thrommes, to grete disceit of ye owner. [4.361a] ... Yai boughten fyn Cotteswold Wolle for xvi and xvii marc', fyn Streites of Essex for xxiiii s. a pece, commen Strettes, xvi s.
Legal.
[MED RParl. (4.360a-361a) 1429]
Sex: Male, Female Ceremonial: No
Body Parts:
Etymological Evidence:
Definite, the Old English forms appear to be feminine of the more usual masc. locc 'lock of hair', with specialized sense; the forms had fallen together by the Middle English period. Also lok in Older Scots, but not attested with the particular sense 'wool lock' until the later 16th century, and then in the compound 'hals-lok' ('neck-lock', referring to a sheep's back). Native English word, from a Germanic root which also gave Old Norse lykkja 'loop, bend'; the original sense of the root was probably 'bend, curl'.
The Old English form is not the same as OE loca 'enclosed space' (see OED loke n.).
WF:
Etym Cog: lykkja (ON).
References:
