Losel

Pronunciation

• UK: IPA: /ˈləʊzÉ™l/
• US: enPR: lōʹzÉ™l, IPA: /ˈloÊŠzÉ™l/

Alternative forms

• lozel

Origin

From Middle English losel (also lorel), from *losen, loren, past participle of lesen ("to lose"), equivalent to lose + -le.

Full definition of losel

Noun

1. (archaic) A worthless or despicable person.
• 1590, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene, II.iii:The whiles a losell wandring by the way,
  One that to bountie neuer cast his mind,
  Ne thought of honour euer did assay ….
• 1843, Thomas_Carlyle, , book 4, chapter III, The One InstitutionThese thousand straight-standing firm-set individuals, who shoulder arms, who march, wheel, advance, retreat; and are, for your behoof, a magazine charged with fiery death, in the most perfect condition of potential activity: few months ago, till the persuasive sergeant came, what were they? Multiform ragged losels, runaway apprentices, starved weavers, thievish valets …
• 1954, Philip_Larkin, Toads:Lots of folk live on their wits:
  Lecturers,lispers,
  Losels, loblolly-men, louts--
  They don't end up as paupers; …
• 1964, Anthony Burgess, The Eve of St Venus:‘Come on, you losel,’ he said to Spatchcock, ‘you privy calligrapher, you. You can carry his bottles. I’ll carry him.’

Derived terms

• loselism
• loselry

Adjective

1. Worthless; wasteful.

Anagrams

• sello