Lombard
/ˈlɒm.bəd/noun
A person from Lombardy; also a historical term for a moneylender or pawnbroker.
Did you know?In medieval Europe, Italian Lombards became so associated with banking that their name survived as a word for pawnbrokers and loan offices, a reminder that language can turn a people’s identity into a financial stereotype.
Etymological Timeline
1st Century CE
Latin
Langobardi
“The Germanic people later known as the Lombards.”
Early Medieval Latin
Latin
Lombardi
“A later form of the tribal name, influenced by sound change and regional usage.”
Middle Ages
Old French
lombard
“A Lombard; especially an Italian moneylender or pawnbroker.”
Middle English
English
lombard
“A Lombard, or a moneylender/pawnbroker associated with Italians.”
Modern English
English
Lombard
“A person from Lombardy; also a historical term for a pawnbroker or moneylender.”