An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/los

by Friedrich Kluge

los, adj., ‘loose, released,’ from MidHG. lôs, ‘free, unimpeded, bare, plundered, released, wanton, not solid, frivolous’; corresponding to Goth. laus, ‘empty, invalid, vain,’ OIc. ‘loose, free, unimpeded,’ AS. leás, ‘loose, false, deceitful’ (to this is allied E. leas, ‘lie’ and E. -less, only as the second part of a compound; E. loose is borrowed from Scand.), Du. los, OSax. lôs; the adj. form lausa-, common to Teut., is from the root lus, ‘to be loose,’ discussed under verlieren. From the Teut. adj. is derived Span. lozano, ‘merry, cheerful.’ See lösen.