- This word is used mainly in circles of people who participate in larping. You might not ever hear this term unless you knew someone who was a larper because it refers to a very specific hobby, not just any situation in which you dress up. The speaker probably used this word for three reasons: it is a lot shorter than saying “live-action role playing” every time you want to describe the activity; in eliminating the “role play” part of the word, they get rid of any sexual connotations that might be associated with that word; and it is almost a euphemism for something that people might consider odd.
larp1
verb Acronym, euphemism
To dress up in costumes, usually from the medieval era, and engage in activities such as jousting and sword-fighting
Etymology : Larp is an acronym for “live-action role playing,” which is a type of sport in which medieval enthusiasts can dress up and pretend they are living in that era. The sport was only invented recently, and the words “live-action role play” were selected (they didn’t develop) to accurately describe the sport. The word larp then is simply an acronym for the selected words
Source : “One of my main hobbies is larping. I usually go about every weekend, and I have a good group of friends from there.” -The ABC Show Wipeout, July 2013
Last modified: 4 December 2016