By 
Jessica Oreck
 | 
TED-Ed Original

Mysteries of vernacular: Lady

Why do we call women ladies? Well etymologically-speaking the word comes from the Old English words for hlaf (bread) and daege (maid) which combined mean the female head of the household and eventually indicated high social standing. Jessica Oreck and Rachael Teel follow the word to its contemporary position simply describing a female.

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