c.1300, ladde "foot soldier," also "young male servant" (attested as a surname from c.1100), possibly from a Scand. language (cf. Norw. -ladd, in compounds for "young man"), but of obscure origin in any case. OED hazards a guess on M.E. ladde, plural of the pp. of lead (v.), thus "one who is led" (by a lord). Meaning "boy, youth, young man" is from c.1440. Scottish form laddie, a term of endearment, attested from 1546.
[lad] 
