Loot
Etymology
From Hindi lūṭ (“plunder, spoils”), ultimately from Sanskrit luṇṭhati (“he robs”). British soldiers and officials in India carried the word into English in the early nineteenth century, and it has since spread from battlefields to game screens.
noun · /LOOT/
Goods taken by force or theft, especially in a war, riot, or raid.
What it names
The haul of plunder — spoils seized in the chaos of conquest or disorder, and, more recently, the rewards scooped up in a video game.
Example
They cleared the dungeon and split the loot three ways.
Related idea
Booty is spoils taken in war; loot is broader — anything plundered, whether from a riot or a raid boss.
verb · /LOOT/
To steal goods, especially during a war, riot, or disaster.
What it names
ransacking shops or homes amid chaos
Example
Stores were looted during the blackout.
Related idea
From Hindi “lūṭ” (plunder) — the noun and verb share the one origin.
See also