loaf
UK: ləʊf | US: loʊf
n. a shaped mass of baked bread
n. (informal) a period of idleness
vi. to spend time in a lazy way
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The word "loaf" traces back to Old English hlāf, meaning "bread" or "loaf of bread." It shares a common Germanic root with German Laib and Dutch broodlaaf. Originally, it referred specifically to the shaped mass of bread, but by the 19th century, its verb form emerged in British slang, humorously equating idleness to "loafing around" like an inert loaf of bread. The semantic shift reflects the word’s cultural association with comfort and inactivity.
She bought a fresh loaf of sourdough from the bakery.
Stop loafing around and finish your chores!
He sliced the loaf into thick pieces for sandwiches.
The cat spent the afternoon loafing in the sun.
In Victorian slang, "loaf" humorously meant "head," as in "use your loaf!"