loin

views updated May 29 2018

loin / loin/ • n. (usu. loins) the part of the body on both sides of the spine between the lowest (false) ribs and the hipbones. ∎  (loins) chiefly poetic/lit. the region of the sexual organs, esp. when regarded as the source of erotic or procreative power: he felt a stirring in his loins at the thought. ∎  (loin) a large cut of meat that includes the vertebrae of the loins: loin of pork with potatoes.PHRASES: gird (up) one's loinssee gird1 .ORIGIN: Middle English: from Old French loigne, based on Latin lumbus.

loin

views updated May 18 2018

loin part of the body between short ribs and hip-bone. XIV. — OF. loigne, eastern var. of longe (in modF. loin of veal) :- Rom. *lumbia, fem. of *lumbeus, f. lumbus loin; rel. to OE. lendenu pl. loins, OS. lendin, OHG. pl. lentīn (G. lende), ON. lend.

loin

views updated May 14 2018

loin The back portion of animals; see pork, lamb.

loin

views updated May 29 2018

loin (loin) n. the region of the back and side of the body between the lowest rib and the pelvis.