Question

Why are loupes called loupes?

Answer 1

Etymology. From Middle French, from Old French loupe (“sapphire lens, imperfect gem, mass of hot metal”), from Frankish *luppa (“something pendulous”), from Proto-Germanic *lubbǭ (“that which hangs or dangles”), *lub- (“to peel, hang”), from Proto-Indo-European *lep- (“to peel, skin”).