Late 16th century; earliest use found in William Lambarde (1536–1601), antiquary and lawyer. From Anglo-Norman loee, luwé, louee, Anglo-Norman and Middle French liué (Middle French, French lieue) league, liberty extending for about a league outside a town from post-classical Latin leucata, leugata measure of distance, league, area of jurisdiction extending one league around a town from leuca + classical Latin -āta.