'lofty' originates from Old Norse, specifically the word 'lopt', where 'lopt' meant 'air, sky, upper room'.

'lopt' entered Middle English as 'loft' (meaning an upper chamber or the air/sky); the adjective 'lofty' was formed in Middle English by adding the suffix '-y' to produce the modern adjective 'lofty' and its adverbial form 'loftily'.

Initially, it meant 'of the air or upper rooms; elevated in height', but over time it evolved to include the figurative sense of 'elevated in character or rank' and later also the pejorative sense 'haughty or arrogant', which is reflected in the adverb 'loftily'.