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According to the Online Etymological Dictionary, lam means: "flight," as in on the lam, 1897, from a U.S. slang verb meaning "to run off" (1886), of uncertain origin, perhaps somehow from the first element of lambaste , which was used in British student slang for "beat" since 1590s.
7 cze 2024 · Key Takeaways. The phrase "on the lam" means to avoid capture by fleeing from law enforcement. It originated in the late 19th century and was first used by pickpockets as a signal to escape from potential danger.
“On the lam” means “to escape.” “To lam” is a slang verb used to showcase this. It’s most prevalent in the case of escaping from the police, though it may appear in other situations too. Its origins date back to Old Norse, where the verb originally meant “to beat.”
28 wrz 2024 · on the lam (not comparable) Running away, usually from the police; on the run.
on the lam. If someone is on the lam, they are trying to escape or hide from someone, for example the police or an enemy. He is currently on the lam, wanted for the sale and trafficking of cocaine. A Rhode Island banker accused of stealing millions has turned himself in after months on the lam.
15 paź 2021 · lam (n.) "flight, escape," as in on the lam , 1928, in pickpocket slang, (according to OED attested from 1897 in do a lam ), from a U.S. slang verb meaning "to run off" (1886), of uncertain origin, but perhaps from lam (v.), which was used in British student slang for "to beat" since 1590s (compare lambaste ); if so, the word has the same ...
3 cze 2022 · Origin. The expression "on the lam" originates from the 16th century. The initial meaning of the word "lam" was to "beat soundly." By the end of the 1500s, the word was a part of the thieves' vernacular. Some experts believe Shakespeare introduced "lam" into everyday colloquial language.
