lull

Meanings

1. A period of rest or soothing.
2. A period of reduced activity; a respite.
3. A period without waves or wind.
4. An extended pause between sets of waves.

1. To cause to rest by soothing influences; to compose; to calm
2. To become gradually calm; to subside; to cease or abate.

1. A surname.

Etymology

From Middle English lullen, lollen. Originally, perhaps expressive in origin from la-la-la or lu-lu-lu sounds made in calming a child. Compare Finnish laulaa (“to sing”) and Hiligaynon lala (“to sing a lullaby”). Cognate with Scots lul, lule, loll (“to lull, put to sleep, howl, caterwaul”), Dutch lollen (“to sing badly, caterwaul”), Dutch lullen (“to chatter, prate, cheat, deceive”), Low German lullen (“to lull”), German lullen (“to lull”), Danish lulle (“to lull, sing to sleep”), Swedish lulla (“to lull”), Icelandic lúlla (“to lull”).