lad: [13] Lad originally meant ‘male of low status or social rank’, and hence ‘male servant’, but by the 14th century its progression to the presentday ‘young male’ was well under way. It is not known where it came from, but there seems to be a strong likelihood of a Scandinavian origin (Norwegian has -ladd in compounds referring to ‘(male) persons’).
lad (n.)
c. 1300, ladde "foot soldier," also "young male servant" (attested as a surname from late 12c.), possibly from a Scandinavian language (compare Norwegian -ladd, in compounds for "young man"), but of obscure origin in any case. OED hazards a guess on Middle English ladde, plural of the past participle of lead (v.), thus "one who is led" (by a lord). Liberman derives it from Old Norse ladd "hose; woolen stocking." "The development must have been from 'stocking,' 'foolish youth' to 'youngster of inferior status' and (with an ameliorated meaning) to 'young fellow.'" He adds, "Words for socks, stockings, and shoes seem to have been current as terms of abuse for and nicknames of fools." Meaning "boy, youth, young man" is from mid-15c. Scottish form laddie, a term of endearment, attested from 1540s.
雙語例句
1. Come along, lad. Time for you to get home.
來吧，小伙子。你該回家了。
來自柯林斯例句
2. He was a nice lad — bright and with a sunny disposition.
他是個不錯的小伙子——聰明伶俐而且性格開朗。
來自柯林斯例句
3. He's a sensitive lad and some of the criticism has stung him.
他是個敏感的小伙子，有些批評刺痛了他。
來自柯林斯例句
4. Burns is a big lad with a rolling gait.
伯恩斯是一個走起路來一搖一晃的高大小伙子。
來自柯林斯例句
5. He's a mere slip of a lad compared to his brother.