Why is "Lent" called "Lent"?

Lent is the time from Ash Wednesday to Easter (40 days excluding Sundays).  This time was originally known in Latin as quadragesima meaning fortieth day.  The Romance languages still preserve this nomenclature (for example, Spanish cuaresma).  In the late Middle Ages sermons began to be given in the vernacular instead of Latin.  The English word "lent" was adopted by the English, Scandinavian, Dutch and German.  The word "lent" initially simply meant springand drives from the Germanic root for long referring to the lengthening spring days.