Lefty

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈlɛfti/

Definitions

1. A person who predominantly uses their left hand for tasks ; an individual who holds political beliefs associated with left-wing ideologies
2. Someone naturally skilled with the left hand in activities like writing or sports ; a person supporting progressive or liberal political positions
3. An individual favoring use of the left hand over the right ; a supporter of leftist political movements or ideas

Etymology: "Lefty" is "left" with the suffix "-y", which English uses to form nouns and adjectives meaning "characterised by" or "associated with" something. The suffix has deep roots: it traces back through Old English "-iġ" to a Proto-Germanic form ""-j-", while the adjectival branch goes back to Proto-Indo-European ""-kos". In other words, the same ending that turns "left" into a description of a hand or a politician also appears in older Germanic words for qualities and places. The noun is the more interesting branch. "Left" itself comes from Old English "lyft", meaning "weak" or "worthless", which is why the left hand was long regarded as the lesser one. A person who used it was therefore a "weak" or awkward individual, and the nickname "lefty" carries that same old sense of inferiority, even though it is now a neutral label. Today it is also used for left-leaning political figures and, in baseball, for left-handed pitchers.

Synonyms: left-handed person, southpaw

Antonyms: right-handed person