From Middle English laste, latst, syncopated variant of latest, both ultimately from Old English latost. Doublet of latest.
Meanings
(not-comparable) Final, ultimate, coming after all others of its kind.
Will try to fix it by myself for now: as a last resort, we can always take it to a grease monkey.
Eyes Wide Shut was the last film to be directed by Stanley Kubrick.
Then everybody once more knelt, and soon the blessing was pronounced. The choir and the clergy trooped out slowly, […], down the nave to the western door. […] At a seemingly immense distance the surpliced group stopped to say the last prayer. 1918, W[illiam] B[abington] Maxwell, chapter V, in The Mirror and the Lamp, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC:
(not-comparable) Most recent, latest, last so far.
The last time I saw him, he was married.
I have received your note dated the 17th last, and am responding to say that[…]
She told him the last news about little Georgy, and how he was gone to spend that very day with his sisters in the country. 1847 January – 1848 July, William Makepeace Thackeray, Vanity Fair […], London: Bradbury and Evans […], published 1848, →OCLC:
In America alone, people spent $170 billion on “direct marketing”—junk mail of both the physical and electronic varieties—last year. 2013 May 25, “No Hiding Place”, in The Economist, volume 407, number 8837, page 74:
(not-comparable) Farthest of all from a given quality, character, or condition; most unlikely, or least preferable.
He is the last person to be accused of theft.
More rain is the last thing we need right now.
The last person I want to meet is Helen.
(not-comparable) Being the only one remaining of its class.
Japan is the last empire.
(not-comparable) Supreme; highest in degree; utmost.
Contending for principles of the last importance. 1802, Robert Hall, Reflections on War:
(not-comparable) Lowest in rank or degree.
Lesser, but still important executives had offices without corner windows. The rank below this had offices without windows at all. […] The last rank had desks out in an open room. 1970, Julius Fast, Body Language, →ISBN, page 39:
The whole community from the patrician master to the last beggar knew that in the five months when the generous bosom of the steppe throbbed with creative life, they must toil for the subsistence of all […] 1899, Richard Savage, The White Lady of Khaminavatka: A Story of the Ukraine, page 186:
Russia is a very different place than here. […] Even the last soldier knows who Malevich was, and what the Black Square is, since they were taught this in school. 2003 March 31, Marko Peljhan, “Lecture: March 31, 2003”, in Jen Budney, Adrian Blackwell, editors, Unboxed Engagements in Social Space, published 2005, →ISBN, page 110:
Three contestants will win awards, but the last prize is just a book voucher.
In one word then, unless I could unfold the mystery, I will not wish you to consider me but as the last and lowest of mankind. 1797 May 8 (first performance), Richard Cumberland, “The Last of the Family. A Comedy.”, in Frances Marianne [Cumberland] Jansen, editor, The Posthumous Dramatick Works of the Late Richard Cumberland, Esq. […], volume II, London: […] [F]or G[eorge] and W[illiam] Nicol, […]; by W[illiam] Bulmer and Co., […], published 1813, →OCLC, Act III, scene [iii], page 237:
mk последен (final) · it ultimo (least preferable) · pl zeszły (most recent) · fy lêst (final) · km មុន (most recent) · pt último (final) · sl prejšnji (most recent) · ba һуңғы (most recent) · hy վերջին (most recent) · tg гузашта (most recent) · csb slédny (final) · az ötən (most recent) · ast últimu (final) · ru после́дний (final) · ru предыду́щий (most recent) · es anterior (most recent) · io lasta (most recent) · ka ბოლო (final) · no senest (final) · lt paskutinis (final) · ca passat (most recent) · sv senast (most recent) · ky акыркы (final) · be апо́шні (most recent) · os фӕстаг (final) · kum оьтген (most recent) · hy վերջին (final) · grc ἔσχατος (final) · de letzte (being the only one remaining of its class) · te ఆఖరి (final) · sh задњи (final) · th ที่แล้ว (most recent) · sh последњи (final) · el πρόσφατος (most recent) · fur ultin (final) · nl laagst (lowest in rank or degree) · grc τελευταῖος (final) · ko 마지막 (final) · sh prošli (most recent) · ia ultime (final) · fi tärkein (supreme; highest in degree; utmost) · lo ກ່ອນ (most recent) · da sidst (final) · pl ostatni (final) · be аста́тні (most recent) · es último (most recent) · ru неда́вний (most recent) · ru заверша́ющий (final) · ba аҙаҡҡы (final) · es postrimer (final) · fo síðstur (most recent) · eo fina (final) · de letzte (least preferable) · th ที่โหล่ (lowest in rank or degree) · fi suurin (supreme; highest in degree; utmost) · bn আখেরী (final) · ru мину́вший (most recent) · cy olaf (final) · bg последен (being the only one remaining of its class) · gd seo chaidh (most recent) · si අන්තිම (final) · ja 最後 (final) · sv förra (most recent) · el τελευταίος (most recent) · te చివరి (final) · fi viimeinen (least preferable) · sh posljednji (final) · et viimane (final) · grc ὕστατος (final) · bg после́ден (most recent) · sv sist (final) · el τελευταίος (least preferable) · kk ақырғы (final) · nl laatst (most recent) · te పోయిన (most recent) · lt paskutinis (most recent) · eo antaŭa (most recent) · la novissimus (most recent) · es último (least preferable) · io lasta (final) · it più recente (most recent) · it precedente (most recent) · nl laatst (being the only one remaining of its class) · ro ultim (being the only one remaining of its class) · sk posledný (final) · ro ultim (most recent) · lo ສຸດທ້າຍ (final) · hi अंत्य (final) · ka უკანასკნელი (final) · lad dalkavo (final) · ang sīþmest (final) · eu azken (final) · got 𐌰𐍆𐍄𐌿𐌼𐌰 (final) · el τελικός (final) · ar آخِر (final) · mt l-aħħar (final) · de letzte (lowest in rank or degree) · ka გასული (most recent) · is síðast (final) · ca últim (most recent) · be апо́шні (final) · da sidste (final) · cmn 最終 /最终 (final) · it scorso (most recent) · hi पिछला (most recent) · no sist (final) · zdj -apvira (most recent) · ky кийинки (final) · it ultimo (final) · ba ахырғы (final) · fi viime (most recent) · grc τέλειος (final) · pl ubiegły (most recent) · ang sīþmest (most recent) · sl zadnji (final) · el τελευταίος (final) · nl vorig (most recent) · hu utolsó (final) · sk minulý (most recent) · alt ӧткӧн (most recent) · grc ὕστατος (most recent) · tk ahyrky (final) · es último (final) · gd deireannach (final) · fi viimeinen (lowest in rank or degree) · uz ohirgi (final) · bzj laas (most recent) · eo lasta (final) · es postrer (final) · nl laatst (least preferable) · te కిందటి (most recent) · hi अंतिम (final) · ur پچھلا (most recent) · sh zadnji (final) · ms terakhir (final) · th ก่อน (most recent) · ru после́дний (most recent) · vo lätik (final) · si අවසාන (final) · alt кийинги (final) · th สุดท้าย (final) · mn сүүлчийн (final) · mk последен (least preferable) · ja 最終的 (final) · sh посљедњи (final) · mk последен (most recent) · fr dernier (being the only one remaining of its class) · grc τελευταῖος (most recent) · no nyest (most recent) · uz keyingi (final) · he שעבר (most recent) · sl končni (final) · pt passado (most recent) · la postremus (final) · ru заключи́тельный (final) · vi cuối cùng (final) · ro ultim (final) · cy diwethaf (most recent) · sh poslednji (final) · gl derradeiro (most recent) · fa گذشته (most recent) · tr son (being the only one remaining of its class) · fi viimeinen (being the only one remaining of its class) · az son (final) · ar الْمَاضِي (most recent) · fa آخر (final) · ja 終わり (final) · ky соңку (final) · ru после́дний (least preferable) · pt último (least preferable) · gd mu dheireadh (final) · uk оста́нній (final) · qu ñawpaq (most recent) · lad alkavo (final) · cs minulý (most recent) · fr dernier (most recent) · ba һуңғы (final) · tk soňky (final) · es postremero (final) · ar مَاضٍ (most recent) · cmn 最近的 (most recent) · id terakhir (final) · ca darrer (final) · oc ultim (final) · kk соңғы (final) · ko 지난 (most recent) · gl derradeiro (final) · la ultimus (final) · ru коне́чный (final) · az sonuncu (final) · ca últim (final) · fo síðstur (final) · az keçən (most recent) · ky өткөн (most recent) · fi viimeisin (most recent) · fr dernier (final) · nl laatst (final) · gl último (final) · oc passat (most recent) · de letzte (final) · arz آخر (final) · sl poslednji (final) · rue послї́днїй (final) · grc λοῖσθος (final) · zdj raka niyo (most recent) · da senest (most recent) · de letzte (most recent) · grc ἔσχατος (most recent) · es pasado (most recent) · az axırıncı (final) · ja 前の (most recent) · nl afgelopen (most recent) · fi äärimmäinen (supreme; highest in degree; utmost) · bg краен (supreme; highest in degree; utmost) · nl laatst (lowest in rank or degree) · cmn 上個 /上个 (most recent) · ro ultim (lowest in rank or degree) · el ύστατος (final) · lv pēdējais (final) · fi viimeinen (final) · es postrero (final) · es previo (most recent) · tg охир (final) · cmn 最後 /最后 (final) · bua һүүлшын (final) · pms ùltim (final) · eo lasta (most recent) · pt último (most recent) · no senest (most recent) · uk мину́лий (most recent) · gsw letscht (final) · be міну́лы (most recent) · ru про́шлый (most recent) · cs poslední (final) · hi आखिरी (final) · bg после́ден (final) · tr sonuncu (most recent) · rsk прешли (most recent) · it ultimo (being the only one remaining of its class) · he אַחֲרוֹן (final) · gl último (most recent) · sh прошли (most recent) · km ចុងបំផុត (final) · es postremo (final) · yi לעצטער (final) · es postrimero (final) · km ចុងក្រោយ (final) · tr son (final) · dsb slědny (final) · uk оста́нній (most recent)
From Middle English laste, latst, syncopated variant of latest, both ultimately from Old English latost. Doublet of latest.
Meanings
(not-comparable) Most recently.
When we last met, he was based in Toronto.
How long is't now since last yourself and I / Were in a mask? c. 1591–1595 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Romeo and Ivliet”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene v]:
(not-comparable, sequence) after everything else; finally
Pleased with his idol, he commends, admires, / Adores; and, last, the thing adored desires. 1717, William Congreve, Samuel Croxall, John Dryden, Laurence Eusden, John Ozell, “Book X”, in Ovid’s Metamorphoses in Fifteen Books. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC:
As I arrived last of all, I'll go last to add the butter last.
From Middle English laste, latst, syncopated variant of latest, both ultimately from Old English latost. Doublet of latest.
Meanings
The (one) immediately before the present.
I was last to go; you're next.
We went there last year.
(of days of the week or months of the year) Closest in the past, or closest but one if the closest was very recent; of days, sometimes thought to specifically refer to the instance closest to seven days (one week) ago, or the most recent instance before seven days (one week) ago.
It's Wednesday, and the party was last Tuesday; that is, not yesterday, but eight days ago.
Where my brother had stood last night, I now stood.
When you say last Monday, do you mean the Monday just gone, or the one before that?
Translations (14)
fi viime (closest to seven days ago) · ru про́шлый (the one immediately before the present) · de letzte (closest to seven days ago) · nl vorige (the one immediately before the present) · bg ми́нал (the one immediately before the present) · bg предишен (the one immediately before the present) · de letzte (the one immediately before the present) · sq marrësi (the one immediately before the present) · ru тот (the one immediately before the present) · bg минал (closest to seven days ago) · ga seo caite (the one immediately before the present) · bzj laas (the one immediately before the present) · fi viime (the one immediately before the present) · ro trecut (closest to seven days ago)
From Middle English lasten, from Old English lǣstan, from Proto-West Germanic *laistijan, from Proto-Germanic *laistijaną. Cognate with German leisten (“yield”).
Meanings
(intransitive) To endure, continue over time.
They seem happy now, but that won't last long.
Summer seems to last longer each year.
Thus the red damask curtains which now shut out the fog-laden, drizzling atmosphere of the Marylebone Road, had cost a mere song, and yet they might have been warranted to last another thirty years. A great bargain also had been the excellent Axminster carpet which covered the floor;[…]. 1913, Mrs. [Marie] Belloc Lowndes, chapter I, in The Lodger, London: Methuen, →OCLC; republished in Novels of Mystery: The Lodger; The Story of Ivy; What Really Happened, New York, N.Y.: Longmans, Green and Co., […], [1933], →OCLC, page 0016:
They say this blizzard might last (for) days.
One of the earliest (and biggest) space weather events on record occurred in September 1859, when a massive solar eruption crashed into the Earth's magnetosphere, triggering a geomagnetic storm that lasted for days. 2023 November 15, Prof. Jim Wild, “This train was delayed because of bad weather in space”, in RAIL, number 996, page 30:
And love will last as pure and whole
As when he loved me here in Time,
And at the spiritual prime
Rewaken with the dawning soul. 1850, [Alfred, Lord Tennyson], “Canto XLII”, in In Memoriam, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC, page 65:
(intransitive) To hold out, continue undefeated or entire.
I don't know how much longer we can last without reinforcements.
(intransitive, of a man, slang) To purposefully refrain from orgasm
ar اِسْتَمَرَّ (to endure, continue over time) · dlm dorur (to endure, continue over time) · de durchführen (to perform, carry out) · lad turar (to endure, continue over time) · lb daueren (to endure, continue over time) · gd mair (to endure, continue over time) · sw -dumu (to endure, continue over time) · cmn 延續 /延续 (to endure, continue over time) · nrf duther (to endure, continue over time) · de anhalten (to endure, continue over time) · ru продолжа́ться (to endure, continue over time) · be до́ўжыцца (to endure, continue over time) · gl durar (to hold out) · es aturar (to endure, continue over time) · sq zgjat (to endure, continue over time) · cmn 持續 /持续 (to endure, continue over time) · fr durer (to endure, continue over time) · aln maj (to endure, continue over time) · tr sürmek (to endure, continue over time) · es durar (to endure, continue over time) · sv fortfara (to endure, continue over time) · hu tart (to endure, continue over time) · bg продължа́вам (to endure, continue over time) · grc παραμένω (to endure, continue over time) · be трыва́ць (to endure, continue over time) · ca durar (to endure, continue over time) · ja 継続する (to endure, continue over time) · sh тра̏јати (to endure, continue over time) · ro dura (to endure, continue over time) · mk трае (to endure, continue over time) · cs trvat (to endure, continue over time) · be працягну́цца (to endure, continue over time) · fa طول کشیدن (to endure, continue over time) · vi kéo dài (to endure, continue over time) · he נִמְשַׁךְ (to endure, continue over time) · uk продо́вжуватися (to endure, continue over time) · ar دَامَ (to endure, continue over time) · pt resistir (to hold out) · pt aguentar (to hold out) · lv ilgt (to endure, continue over time) · cs vydržet (to hold out) · gl resistir (to hold out) · la persistō (to endure, continue over time) · nl duren (to endure, continue over time) · ro efectua (to perform, carry out) · ga mair (to endure, continue over time) · sl trajati (to endure, continue over time) · km ជាប់យូរ (to endure, continue over time) · uk протя́гуватися (to endure, continue over time) · es durar (to hold out) · ro răbda (to hold out) · ary بْقى (to endure, continue over time) · arz دام (to endure, continue over time) · it durare (to endure, continue over time) · de standhalten (to hold out) · uk продо́вжитися (to endure, continue over time) · sh trȁjati (to endure, continue over time) · az sürmək (to endure, continue over time) · wa durer (to endure, continue over time) · ko 지속되다 (to endure, continue over time) · bg издъ́ржам (to hold out) · fi suorittaa (to perform, carry out) · tr dayanmak (to hold out) · gl durar (to endure, continue over time) · ga mair (to hold out) · ru продо́лжиться (to endure, continue over time) · la maneō (to endure, continue over time) · sk trvať (to endure, continue over time) · sv vara (to hold out) · gd mair (to hold out) · bg тра́я (to endure, continue over time) · as টিকা (to endure, continue over time) · da vedvare (to endure, continue over time) · uk трива́ти (to endure, continue over time) · eo daŭri (to endure, continue over time) · hy դիմանալ (to hold out) · fr tenir (to hold out) · nb vare (to endure, continue over time) · mi ukauka (to endure, continue over time) · ru продержа́ться (to hold out) · pl trwać (to endure, continue over time) · el διαρκώ (to endure, continue over time) · hi टिकना (to hold out) · ru продли́ться (to endure, continue over time) · fi kestää (to hold out) · hi बना रहना (to hold out) · be праця́гвацца (to endure, continue over time) · ru дли́ться (to endure, continue over time) · ko 계속되다 (to endure, continue over time) · fi kestää (to endure, continue over time) · hu kitart (to hold out) · sv vara (to endure, continue over time) · fy lêst (to endure, continue over time) · gd seas (to hold out) · az çəkmək (to endure, continue over time) · ja 続く (to endure, continue over time) · nb vedvare (to endure, continue over time) · de aushalten (to hold out) · mk издржува (to hold out) · pt durar (to endure, continue over time) · gl aguantar (to hold out) · he נוֹתַר (to hold out) · it resistere (to hold out) · ru выде́рживать (to hold out) · io durar (to endure, continue over time) · ckb درێژ کێشان (to endure, continue over time) · pt durar (to hold out) · la persevērō (to endure, continue over time) · el κρατώ (to hold out) · ru вы́держать (to hold out) · de dauern (to endure, continue over time) · gd seas (to endure, continue over time) · et kestma (to endure, continue over time) · bg продължа́ (to endure, continue over time) · uk протягну́тися (to endure, continue over time) · hy տևել (to endure, continue over time) · cy para (to endure, continue over time) · da vare (to endure, continue over time) · he נִשְׁאַר (to hold out) · la dūrō (to endure, continue over time) · es aguantar (to hold out) · oc durar (to endure, continue over time) · nl volhouden (to hold out) · la aeternō (to endure, continue over time) · lt trukti (to endure, continue over time) · he שָׂרַד (to hold out) · de währen (to endure, continue over time) · mk истрајува (to hold out)
The noun is derived from Middle English lest, leste (“shoemaker’s model shaped like a foot, last”), from Old English lǣste (“shoemaker‘s last”), from Proto-Germanic *laistiz, from *laisǭ (“track, trail”), from Proto-Indo-European *leys-eh₂-, from *leys- (“to trace; to track”). Doublet of learn and lore.
The verb is derived from the noun.
cognates
* Dutch leest
* German Leisten
* Proto-Germanic *laistaz (“footprint”)
* Swedish läst
Meanings
(qualifier:shoemaking) A tool in the form of a foot on which an item of footwear (such as a boot or shoe) is placed for shaping while it is being manufactured or repaired.
I muſt to the learned to learne of them, that's as much to ſay, as the Taylor muſt meddle vvith his Laſte, the Shoomaker vvith his needle, the Painter vvith his nets, and the Fiſher vvith his Penſill, I muſt to the learned. c. 1591–1595 (date written), [William Shakespeare], […] Romeo and Juliet. […] (First Quarto), London: […] Iohn Danter, published 1597, →OCLC, [Act I, scene ii], signature [B4], recto:
Shoomaker, you goe alittle beyond your laſt. 1605, [Thomas Heywood], If You Know Not Me, You Know No Bodie: Or, The Troubles of Queene Elizabeth, London: […] [Thomas Purfoot] for Nathaniel Butter, →OCLC, signature C2, verso:
Here's gallants of all ſizes, of all laſts, / Here you may fit your foote, make choyſe of thoſe / VVhome your affection may reioyce in. 1604 (first performance), [Thomas Middleton], Michaelmas Terme. […], London: […] [Thomas Purfoot and Edward Allde] for A[rthur] I[ohnson] […], published 1607, →OCLC, signature [A4], recto:
Is he not Duke indeed, ſee hovv he lookes / As if his ſpirit vvere a laſt, or tvvo / Above his veines, and ſtretcht his noble hide. 1626 February 13 (licensing date; Gregorian calendar), Francis Beaumont, John Fletcher, “The Noble Gentleman”, in Comedies and Tragedies […], London: […] Humphrey Robinson, […], and for Humphrey Moseley […], published 1647, →OCLC, Act III, scene, page 36, column 1:
I ſet my braines vpon an vpright Laſt; tho my vvits be old, yet they are like a vvitherd pippin, vvholſome. 1604 or 1605 (date written), Thomas Dekker, The Second Part of The Honest Whore, […], London: […] Elizabeth All-de, for Nathaniel Butter, published 1630, →OCLC, Act I, signature F2, recto:
How is an in-your-face black leather thigh-high lace-up boot with a four-inch spike heel like a man's black calf lace-up oxford? They are both made on a last, the wood or plastic foot-shaped form that leather is stretched over and shaped to make a shoe. 2006 September, Cathy Newman, “Every Shoe Tells a Story”, in Chris Johns, editor, National Geographic, volume 210, number 3, Washington, D.C.: National Geographic Society, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 83:
Let firm, vvell-hammer'd Soles protect thy Feet / Thro' freezing Snovvs, and Rains, and ſoaking Sleet. / Should the big Laſte extend the Shoe too vvide, / Each Stone vvill vvrench th' unvvary Step aſide: […] [1716], [John] Gay, “Book I. Of the Implements for Walking the Streets, and Signs of the Weather”, in Trivia: Or, The Art of Walking the Streets of London, London: […] Bernard Lintott, […], →OCLC, page 3:
Occasionally, there is a drowsy sound from some lone weaver's shuttle, or shoemaker's last, but it is stifled by the thick walls and heavy dungeon-door, and only serves to make the general stillness more profound. 1842, Charles Dickens, “Philadelphia, and Its Solitary Prison”, in American Notes for General Circulation. […], volume I, London: Chapman and Hall, […], →OCLC, page 241:
And leſſe matters ſet on the Friers laſts, make ſeely Papiſts beleeue novv, that Proteſtants haue no Churches nor Religion, nor ſcarſely the ſhape of men. 1614, Samuel Purchas, “[Asia.] Of the Religions and Other Rites of the Persians.”, in Purchas His Pilgrimage. Or Relations of the World and the Religions Observed in All Ages and Places Discouered, from the Creation vnto this Present. […], 2nd edition, London: […] William Stansby for Henrie Fetherstone, […], →OCLC, book IV (Of the Armenians, Medes, Persians, Parthians, Scythians, Tartarians, Chinois, and of Their Religions), page 372:
fa خهل (tool in the form of a foot) · hi साँचा (tool in the form of a foot) · tr lorta (tool in the form of a foot) · ca forma (tool in the form of a foot) · it forma (tool in the form of a foot) · fa قالب کفش (tool in the form of a foot) · hu kaptafa (tool in the form of a foot) · fr forme (tool in the form of a foot) · hi कलबूत (tool in the form of a foot) · lb Leescht (tool in the form of a foot) · bg калъп (tool in the form of a foot) · pt forma (tool in the form of a foot) · ga ceap (tool in the form of a foot) · fi lesti (tool in the form of a foot) · gd ceap (tool in the form of a foot) · ru коло́дка (tool in the form of a foot) · ota لورطه (tool in the form of a foot) · es horma (tool in the form of a foot) · el καλαπόδι (tool in the form of a foot) · fa تولبره (tool in the form of a foot) · grc κᾱλάπους (tool in the form of a foot) · uk копил (tool in the form of a foot) · pl kopyto (tool in the form of a foot) · sv läst (tool in the form of a foot) · cy mul (tool in the form of a foot) · ro formă (tool in the form of a foot) · la mustricula (tool in the form of a foot) · nl leest (tool in the form of a foot) · da læst (tool in the form of a foot) · grc κᾱλόπους (tool in the form of a foot) · cs kopyto (tool in the form of a foot) · de Leisten (tool in the form of a foot)
The noun is derived from Middle English lest, leste (“shoemaker’s model shaped like a foot, last”), from Old English lǣste (“shoemaker‘s last”), from Proto-Germanic *laistiz, from *laisǭ (“track, trail”), from Proto-Indo-European *leys-eh₂-, from *leys- (“to trace; to track”). Doublet of learn and lore.
The verb is derived from the noun.
cognates
* Dutch leest
* German Leisten
* Proto-Germanic *laistaz (“footprint”)
* Swedish läst
Meanings
(qualifier:shoemaking, transitive) To shape (an item of footwear such as a boot or shoe) during its manufacture or repair while it is placed on a last (noun etymology 3, noun sense 1).
I now begin to last the boot, shoe, or clog with a wax thread, in the same way as boot or shoemakers brace the toe-part of a boot or shoe down to the inner sole, but no nails or tacks must be used, […] 1819 November 1, William Archer Deacon, “Specification of the Patent Granted to William Archer Deacon, of Pilgrim’s Hatch, in the Parish of South Weald, in the County of Essex, Gentleman; for Certain Improvements in the Manufacture of Boots, Shoes, and Clogs, by the Application of Certain Materials hitherto Unused for that Purpose. Dated November 1, 1819”, in The Repertory of Arts, Manufactures, and Agriculture. […], volume XXXVIII (2nd Series), number CCXXVII, London: […] [Nichols and Son] for J. Wyatt, […], published April 1821, →OCLC, page 278:
to last a boot
Sport cycling shoes are lasted on semi-curved or semi-straight lasts much like walking and hiking shoes. 2010, Paul Langer, “Cycling”, in Matthew B. Werd, E. Leslie Knight, editors, Athletic Footwear and Orthoses in Sports Medicine, New York, N.Y.; Dordrecht, South Holland: Springer Science+Business Media, →DOI, →ISBN, part II (Sport-specific Recommendations), page 201:
From Middle English last, from Old English hlæst (“burden, load, freight”), from Proto-Germanic *hlastuz (“burden, load, freight”), from Proto-Indo-European *kleh₂- (“to put, lay out”). Cognate with West Frisian lêst, Dutch last, German Last, Swedish last, Icelandic lest.
Meanings
(obsolete) A burden; load; a cargo; freight.
(obsolete) A measure of weight or quantity, varying in designation depending on the goods concerned.
The last of wool is twelve sacks. 1866, James Edwin Thorold Rogers, A History of Agriculture and Prices in England, volume 1, page 169:
Now we so quietly followed our businesse, that in three moneths wee made three or foure Last of Tarre, Pitch, and Sope ashes [...]. 1624, John Smith, Generall Historie, Kupperman, published 1988, page 114:
(obsolete) An old English (and Dutch) measure of the carrying capacity of a ship, equal to two tons.
1942 (1601), T D Mutch, The First Discovery of Australia, page 14,
The tonnage of the Duyfken of Harmensz's fleet is given as 25 and 30 lasten.
A load of some commodity with reference to its weight and commercial value.
bg товар (burden, load, cargo, freight) · fi lasti (burden, load, cargo, freight) · nl last (measure of the carrying capacity of a ship) · fi lästi (measure of weight) · fi lästi (measure of the carrying capacity of a ship)