Etymology
The ME v. formed on PGmc
*luk- (<
*lūk-, see Seebold) is sometimes explained by Scandinavian input. Gmc nouns formed on this stem are widely attested, cp. Go
us-luk 'opening', OIcel
lok (neut.) 'latch, lock, cover, lid',
loca (masc.) 'enclosure, stronghold',
loka (fem.) 'closing mechanism, latch etc.', OE
loc (neut.) 'lock, bolt, bar'. The ME v. could thus have been formed within English by conversion, potentially under the influence of ON, which unlike the other Gmc languages had verbal formations on this stem, including
loka 'lock, shut' (used in phrases) and more commonly
lykja 'lock, shut, enclose' (with
i-mutation caused by the suffix) (thus
OED3,
MED).
PGmc Ancestor
*luk-
Proposed ON Etymon (OIcel representative)
loka 'lock, shut', lykja 'lock, shut, enclose'
(ONP loka (2) (vb.), lykja (vb.))
Other Scandinavian Reflexes
Far loka, Icel loka; Icel lykja, Norw lykkja, ODan lykke, Dan lukke, OSw lykkia, Sw lycka
OE Cognate
Phonological and morphological markers
Summary category
CCC1