Etymology
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shoplift (v.)

also shop-lift, 1711, back-formation from shoplifting. Earlier it was rogue's cant for "a shoplifter" (1660s). Related: Shop-lifted.

Entries linking to shoplift

shoplifting (n.)

"pilfering of goods from a shop," 1690s; see shoplifter.

lift (v.)
c. 1200, "elevate in rank or dignity, exalt;" c. 1300, "to raise from the ground or other surface, pick up; erect, set in place," also intransitive, "to rise in waves;" early 14c., "remove (someone or something) from its place," from Old Norse lypta "to raise" (Scandinavian -pt- pronounced like -ft-), from Proto-Germanic *luftijan (source also of Middle Low German lüchten, Dutch lichten, German lüften "to lift"), a Proto-Germanic verb from the general Germanic noun for "air, sky, upper regions, atmosphere" (see loft (n.)), giving the verb an etymological sense of "to move up into the air."

Intransitive sense of "to rise, to seem to rise" (of clouds, fogs, etc.) is from 1834. Figurative sense of "to encourage" (with up) is mid-15c. The meaning "steal, take up dishonestly" (as in shoplift) is 1520s. Surgical sense of "to raise" (a person's face) is from 1921. Middle English also had a verb liften (c. 1400). Related: Lifted; lifting.

updated on December 12, 2020

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Definitions of shoplift from WordNet

shoplift (v.)
steal in a store;
From wordnet.princeton.edu, not affiliated with etymonline.

Dictionary entries near shoplift

shootist

shoot-out

shop

shopaholic

shopkeeper

shoplift

shoplifter

shoplifting

shoppe

shopper

shopping

© 2001-2022 Douglas Harper