language [ME] The word language is from Old French langage, based on Latin lingua ‘tongue’, which is also found in linguist [L16th], and goes back to an Indo-European root shared with lick [OE]. The expression to lick someone into shape [E17th] comes from the old tradition that bear cubs were born a formless mass, and had literally to be licked into shape by their mothers. Lingo [M17th] is probably from the Portuguese form of lingua.