- level (n.)
- 1340, from O.Fr. livel, from L. libella "a balance, level," dim. of libra "balance, scale, unit of weight." The adj. is 1559, from the noun. The verb in the slang sense of "tell the truth" is from 1920. Notion of "balanced" is behind level-headed (1876). The Levellers (1644) were a political party of the time of Charles I that advocated abolishing all differences of position and rank. Cognate Sp. nivel, Mod.Fr. niveau are from the same source but altered by dissimilation.