Wordwyrt

ledger

/ˈledʒə/LEH-jur
/ˈlɛdʒɚ/LEH-jur

Meaningto lie (flat)

Common meaning: the main book of accounts

Journey through time

  1. Old Dutchleggen‘to lie’source
  2. Dutchmeaning shiftsto lie → one that lies downlegger‘one that lies down’source
  3. Englishmeaning shiftsone that lies down → the main book of accountsledger‘the main book of accounts’ · today

Sources & notes

Meaning: “Meaning” is the sense that emerges from the word’s roots; “Common meaning” is today’s everyday sense. Both written by us.

Pronunciation

  • UK IPA: converted from the US form by rule (unchecked). Respelling: generated.
  • No UK recording; the speaker uses your device’s en-GB voice.
  • US IPA: CMUdict (BSD-2), converted to IPA by rule. Respelling: generated.
  • No US recording; the speaker uses your device’s en-US voice.

Origin: Built on Old Dutch leggen ‘to lie (flat)’.

Did you know: our wording, based on Skeat, Etymological Dictionary (1898), entry LEDGER, p. 327 · dictionary scan

Roots

  • leggen Old Dutch “to lie (flat)”

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