Lagging
/ˈlæɡ.ɪŋ/noun
Present participle of lag, meaning to fall behind or move slowly.
Did you know?The exact origin of English *lag* is uncertain, but it appears in Scandinavian and North English dialects with the sense of moving slowly or falling behind, and its modern tech meaning is a perfect metaphor for delay as a kind of energetic drag.
Etymological Timeline
Late Middle English
English
laggen
“To trail behind; move slowly or sluggishly.”
16th Century
English
lag
“To fall behind in movement or progress.”
16th-17th Century
Scandinavian/English dialect
lag
“A slow pace or delay; to move with slackness.”
Modern English
English
lagging
“Falling behind, delaying, or moving slower than expected.”