lough

American  

[lok, lokh] / lɒk, lɒx /

noun

Irish English.

1. a lake.

2. a partially landlocked or protected bay; a narrow arm of the sea.

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lough British  

/ lɒx, lɒk /

noun

1. an Irish word for lake 1

2. a long narrow bay or arm of the sea in Ireland

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Etymology

Origin of lough

1505–15; Anglo-Irish spelling of Irish loch lake; compare Middle English low, lough ( e ), logh ( e ), Old English (Northumbrian) lūh < British Celtic *lux- (> Welsh llwch (obsolete) lake, Old Breton luh, Breton louc’h ), apparently < early Irish; see loch

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

lough

Gerry Darby from the Lough Neagh Partnership said because six major rivers and a number of smaller rivers flow into the lough, water pollution incidents ultimately had a domino effect.

From BBC ● Jul. 14, 2026

Michael Muckian, chair of the Cooley Peninsula Community Alert group, said: "The boat got into difficulty in the early afternoon and there is currently a number of boats on the lough still searching."

From BBC ● Jun. 2, 2026

Nicole Minogue, who was at the event, said she feels the lough is undervalued.

From BBC ● Apr. 19, 2026

"The aim is to give a voice to the lough and come together as a community to highlight through song, how we feel about the Lough," she explained.

From BBC ● Apr. 19, 2026

Hope in the fact that he could learn and survive and take care of himself. lough hope, he thought that night.

From "Hatchet" by Gary Paulsen

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