Lamb
/læm/noun
A young sheep.
Did you know?In ancient cultures, lambs were often sacrificed in spring rituals to ensure fertility and renewal, linking them to powerful life cycles and transformations.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*h₁lamb-
“Young animal or offspring, especially in a sacrificial context.”
Old English
Old English
lamb
“A young sheep, often associated with innocence and sacrifice.”
Old High German
OHG
lamba
“Young sheep, reflecting the same sacrificial significance.”
Middle English
Middle English
lamb
“The young of a sheep, often used in religious contexts.”
Modern English
English
lamb
“A young sheep, retaining associations with purity and sacrifice.”