Lag

Lag

Noun / Verb · /læɡ/

Definition

(Noun) a period of time by which something is delayed or falls behind; (Verb) to fall behind in movement or development; to fail to keep up; (Noun, informal) a prisoner, especially a habitual or long-term one; (Verb) to wrap pipes or a boiler in insulating material.

Origin

Of uncertain origin for the delay sense; possibly from a Scandinavian root related to going slowly. The insulation sense (to lag pipes) is possibly from lag as a strip of wood used for covering. The prisoner sense (old lag) is slang from the 19th century. Used in English from the 16th century.