lough

[ lok, lokh ]

noun

, Irish English.

1. a lake.
2. a partially landlocked or protected bay; a narrow arm of the sea.

lough

/ lɒx; lɒk /

noun

1. an Irish word for lake 1
2. a long narrow bay or arm of the sea in Ireland

Word History and Origins

Origin of lough¹

1505–15; Anglo-Irish spelling of Irish loch lake; compare Middle English low, lough ( e ), logh ( e ), Old English (Northumbrian) lūh < British Celtic *lux- (> Welsh llwch (obsolete) lake, Old Breton luh, Breton louc’h ), apparently < early Irish; loch

Word History and Origins

Origin of lough¹

C14: from Irish loch lake

Example Sentences

Several crews simply failed to return, while others are thought to still lie below the surface of the lough.

From BBC

It did leave the port just after 23:30, but remained in the lough for almost three more days before departing at about 16:30 on Thursday.

From BBC

The lough supplies half of Belfast's drinking water and 40% of Northern Ireland's overall.

From BBC

Large green mats have formed around the lough, particularly in the north-east.

From BBC

Last year saw the lough, the UK's largest freshwater lake, was blighted by large blooms of the potentially toxic blue-green algae.

From BBC