Sirloin
/ˈsɜːr.lɔɪn/noun
A cut of beef from the upper part of the loin, especially near the hip.
Did you know?The popular story that a king dubbed the loin of beef “Sir Loin” is almost certainly a folk etymology, but the word’s long history shows how easily language turns food into legend.
Etymological Timeline
Middle English (15th century)
English
sirloyn
“A cut of beef from the back or loin of an animal”
Early Modern English
English
sirloin
“A prized cut of beef, especially from the loin”
Old French
OF
surloigne
“Upper loin; the part above the loin”
Vulgar Latin
VL
sublumbea
“Upper loin, literally 'under/above the loin' in later French development”
Latin
Lat
lumbus
“The loin or loin region”