LORD, a title of honour given to those who are noble either by birth or creation. In this sense, it amounts to much the same as peer of the realm, or lord of parliament. The title is by courtesy also given to all the sons of dukes and marquises, and to the eldest sons of earls: and it is also a title of honour bestowed on those who are honourable by their employments; as lord advocate, lord chamberlain, lord chancellor, &c. The word is Saxon, but abbreviated from two syllables into one; for it was originally Illaford, which by dropping the aspiration became Laford, and afterwards by contraction Lord. "The etymology of the word (says J. Coates) is well worth observing; for it was composed of illaf "a loaf of bread," and ford "to give or afford;" so that Illaford, now Lord, implies "a giver of bread;" because, in those ages, such great men kept extraordinary houses, and fed all the poor; for which reason they were called givers of bread, a thing now much out of date, great men being fond of retaining the title, but few regarding the practice for which it was first given. See LADY.