loin

American  

[loin] / lɔɪn /

noun

loins plural

1. Usually loins. the part or parts of the human body or of a quadruped animal on either side of the spinal column, between the false ribs and hipbone.

2. a cut of meat from this region of an animal, especially a portion including the vertebrae of such parts.

3. loins,

   1. the parts of the body between the hips and the lower ribs, especially regarded as the seat of physical strength and generative power.

   2. the genital and pubic area; genitalia.

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idioms

1. gird (up) one's loins, to prepare oneself for something requiring readiness, strength, or endurance.

   He girded his loins to face his competitor.

loin British  

/ lɔɪn /

noun

1. Also called: lumbus.  anatomy the part of the lower back and sides between the pelvis and the ribs

2. a cut of meat from this part of an animal

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loin More Idioms  

1. see gird one's loins.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• loins
  plural

Etymology

Origin of loin

1275–1325; Middle English loyne < Middle French lo ( i ) gne, perhaps < Vulgar Latin *lumbea, noun use of feminine of *lumbeus of the loins, equivalent to Latin lumb ( us ) loin + -eus -eous

Explanation

Your loin is the part of your body just above your hip, but below your rib cage. A low-slung belt hangs more or less along your loin. Loin often refers generally to a person's body below their ribs, though rarely by doctors (who like to get more specific). At the butcher, though, it means a particular cut of meat, usually beef or pork, from an animal's low back and side. This is the earliest meaning of the word, which comes from the Old French loigne, "hip or haunch." In the Bible, loin means "part of the body that should be covered with clothing."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

loin loins

One group of ash-smeared holy men, some naked and some dressed in just a loin cloth or marigold garland draped around their necks, marched through the streets, holding tridents, swords and small two-headed drums.

From BBC ● Jan. 13, 2025

Each course is practically a feast unto itself: vol-au-vent, roasted veal loin, poached turbot, baked Alaska — and that’s just the first half-hour.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 15, 2023

It tasted pot-roasty, with the loin simmering in its own juice and the root veggies flavored with fat drippings — comfort food for this wet, dreary weather.

From Seattle Times ● Nov. 29, 2023

We then braise that whole and separately pound out the rib loin paper-thin.

From Salon ● Nov. 19, 2023

I was curious to try the loin, and grilling outdoors over a fire seemed to me more in keeping with the hunter-gatherer theme.

From "The Omnivore's Dilemma" by Michael Pollan

But when audiences girded their loins for the sequel—this one as lavishly supported by glossy publishers as its earlier version was disavowed—there was a single character whose zippy quippiness was most anticipated.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 6, 2026

For Jones and his salvation army it's a day to gird the loins and fight back.

From BBC ● Feb. 11, 2026

A second employee cuts those loins into neat chunks.

From Seattle Times ● Aug. 25, 2023

“There was an initial moment of shock and sort of ‘OK, so I’m going to gird my loins here and finish and accomplish all these things,’” he said.

From New York Times ● Aug. 30, 2022

In 1804, the Lions Bible had sons coming forth from lions instead of loins, and in the Murderers’ Bible of 1801, the complainers in Jude 16 did not murmur, they murdered.

From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver

Related Words

• border
• bottom
• face
• front
• hand
• part
• rear
• sector
• surface
• top
• view