Ever wondered why you hate it when sleazy guys in bars refer to you and your girlfriends as "ladies"? Maybe this has something to do with it.
Originally "lady" came from an Old English word that meant literally "one who kneads bread," from hlaf, meaning "bread." As in, the person in the house who has authority over such things as bread kneading. It connoted an "important" position in the household.
Incidentally, "lord" has the same general derivation. It comes from, hlafweard, literally "one who guards the loaves." As in, "Lady, get in that kitchen and fix me a sandwich."
Ain't that sweet? I knew there was a link between my mother constantly telling me, "That's not ladylike!" and the fact that I don't cook.
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