an association of London underwriters, set up in the late 17th century. Originally concerned exclusively with marine insurance and a shipping information service, it now subscribes a variety of insurance policies and publishes a daily list (Lloyd's List) of shipping data and news
Word origin
C17: named after Edward Lloyd (died ?1726) at whose coffee house in London the underwriters originally carriedon their business
Lloyd's in American English
(lɔɪdz)
noun
an association of insurance underwriters in London formed in the early 18th cent. to subscribe marine insurance policies and to publish shipping news: it now handles many kinds of insurance and publishes an annual descriptive list (Lloyd's Register) of the seagoing vessels of all countries
Word origin
after Lloyd's coffeehouse, meeting place of the orig. assoc.