lull
/lʌl/
verb
Origin
Middle English
lullen — to soothe, hush
Overview
Meaning Now
- To soothe or send to sleep, typically with soothing sounds or movements.
- To calm or send into a state of reduced activity or intensity; to deceive into a false sense of security.
Literal older meaning
To soothe with a gentle, repetitive sound
Language path
Middle English → Early Modern English → English
Earliest form
lullen
Earliest period
late 14th century
Journey
The word 'lull' is widely regarded by linguists as an onomatopoeic formation, imitating the soft 'lu-lu' sounds used when rocking or comforting an infant. It shares this characteristic with several other Germanic terms for soothing or hushing.
Evolution
- 14th century
lullen
“to hush, calm, soothe to sleep”
- 16th century
lull
“a calm period in the weather”
Development of the noun sense from the verbal usage
Connections
Word parts
lull
root
onomatopoeic sound mimicking soothing or hushing
Related across languages
Dutch
lullen
to talk idly/babble
Swedish
lulla
to lull or sing to sleep
German
lullen
to hum or lilt to sleep
Explore next
Related to lull
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.