31 files changed, 437 insertions, 275 deletions

diff --git a/doc/lispref/compile.texi b/doc/lispref/compile.texi
index 00602198da5..3fbf39b349d 100644
--- a/doc/lispref/compile.texi
+++ b/doc/lispref/compile.texi
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ variable binding for @code{no-byte-compile} into it, like this:
 * Docs and Compilation::        Dynamic loading of documentation strings.
 * Eval During Compile::         Code to be evaluated when you compile.
 * Compiler Errors::             Handling compiler error messages.
-* Byte-Code Objects::           The data type used for byte-compiled functions.
+* Closure Objects::             The data type used for byte-compiled functions.
 * Disassembly::                 Disassembling byte-code; how to read byte-code.
 @end menu
 
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ replacing the previous definition with the compiled one.  The function
 definition of @var{symbol} must be the actual code for the function;
 @code{byte-compile} does not handle function indirection.  The return
 value is the byte-code function object which is the compiled
-definition of @var{symbol} (@pxref{Byte-Code Objects}).
+definition of @var{symbol} (@pxref{Closure Objects}).
 
 @example
 @group
@@ -487,21 +487,22 @@ string for details.
 using @code{error}.  If so, set @code{byte-compile-error-on-warn} to a
 non-@code{nil} value.
 
-@node Byte-Code Objects
-@section Byte-Code Function Objects
+@node Closure Objects
+@section Closure Function Objects
 @cindex compiled function
 @cindex byte-code function
 @cindex byte-code object
 
-  Byte-compiled functions have a special data type: they are
-@dfn{byte-code function objects}.  Whenever such an object appears as
-a function to be called, Emacs uses the byte-code interpreter to
-execute the byte-code.
+  Byte-compiled functions use a special data type: they are closures.
+Closures are used both for byte-compiled Lisp functions as well as for
+interpreted Lisp functions.  Whenever such an object appears as
+a function to be called, Emacs uses the appropriate interpreter to
+execute either the byte-code or the non-compiled Lisp code.
 
-  Internally, a byte-code function object is much like a vector; its
+  Internally, a closure is much like a vector; its
 elements can be accessed using @code{aref}.  Its printed
 representation is like that for a vector, with an additional @samp{#}
-before the opening @samp{[}.  It must have at least four elements;
+before the opening @samp{[}.  It must have at least three elements;
 there is no maximum number, but only the first six elements have any
 normal use.  They are:
 
@@ -515,20 +516,28 @@ zero to 6, and the maximum number of arguments in bits 8 to 14.  If
 the argument list uses @code{&rest}, then bit 7 is set; otherwise it's
 cleared.
 
-If @var{argdesc} is a list, the arguments will be dynamically bound
+When the closure is a byte-code function,
+if @var{argdesc} is a list, the arguments will be dynamically bound
 before executing the byte code.  If @var{argdesc} is an integer, the
 arguments will be instead pushed onto the stack of the byte-code
 interpreter, before executing the code.
 
-@item byte-code
-The string containing the byte-code instructions.
+@item code
+For interpreted functions, this element is the (non-empty) list of Lisp
+forms that make up the function's body.  For byte-compiled functions, it
+is the string containing the byte-code instructions.
 
 @item constants
-The vector of Lisp objects referenced by the byte code.  These include
-symbols used as function names and variable names.
+For byte-compiled functions, this holds the vector of Lisp objects
+referenced by the byte code.  These include symbols used as function
+names and variable names.
+For interpreted functions, this is @code{nil} if the function is using the old
+dynamically scoped dialect of Emacs Lisp, and otherwise it holds the
+function's lexical environment.
 
 @item stacksize
-The maximum stack size this function needs.
+The maximum stack size this function needs.  This element is left unused
+for interpreted functions.
 
 @item docstring
 The documentation string (if any); otherwise, @code{nil}.  The value may
@@ -558,8 +567,8 @@ representation.  It is the definition of the command
 @code{make-byte-code}:
 
 @defun make-byte-code &rest elements
-This function constructs and returns a byte-code function object
-with @var{elements} as its elements.
+This function constructs and returns a closure which represents the
+byte-code function object with @var{elements} as its elements.
 @end defun
 
   You should not try to come up with the elements for a byte-code
@@ -567,6 +576,20 @@ function yourself, because if they are inconsistent, Emacs may crash
 when you call the function.  Always leave it to the byte compiler to
 create these objects; it makes the elements consistent (we hope).
 
+The primitive way to create an interpreted function is with
+@code{make-interpreted-closure}:
+
+@defun make-interpreted-closure args body env &optional docstring iform
+This function constructs and returns a closure representing the
+interpreted function with arguments @var{args} and whose body is made of
+@var{body} which must be a non-@code{nil} list of Lisp forms.  @var{env} is the
+lexical environment in the same form as used with @code{eval}
+(@pxref{Eval}).  The documentation @var{docstring} if non-@code{nil} should be
+a string, and the interactive form @var{iform} if non-@code{nil} should be of
+the form @w{@code{(interactive @var{arg-descriptor})}} (@pxref{Using
+Interactive}).
+@end defun
+
 @node Disassembly
 @section Disassembled Byte-Code
 @cindex disassembled byte-code
@@ -595,7 +618,7 @@ name of an existing buffer.  Then the output goes there, at point, and
 point is left before the output.
 
 The argument @var{object} can be a function name, a lambda expression
-(@pxref{Lambda Expressions}), or a byte-code object (@pxref{Byte-Code
+(@pxref{Lambda Expressions}), or a byte-code object (@pxref{Closure
 Objects}).  If it is a lambda expression, @code{disassemble} compiles
 it and disassembles the resulting compiled code.
 @end deffn
diff --git a/doc/lispref/control.texi b/doc/lispref/control.texi
index f9f3389c398..46024e2fdee 100644
--- a/doc/lispref/control.texi
+++ b/doc/lispref/control.texi
@@ -2411,7 +2411,7 @@ point where we signaled the original error:
 @group
 Debugger entered--Lisp error: (error "Oops")
   signal(error ("Oops"))
-  (closure (t) (err) (signal 'error (cdr err)))((user-error "Oops"))
+  #f(lambda (err) [t] (signal 'error (cdr err)))((user-error "Oops"))
   user-error("Oops")
   @dots{}
   eval((handler-bind ((user-error (lambda (err) @dots{}
diff --git a/doc/lispref/elisp.texi b/doc/lispref/elisp.texi
index ec93a0b9c8a..339272d1f05 100644
--- a/doc/lispref/elisp.texi
+++ b/doc/lispref/elisp.texi
@@ -323,7 +323,7 @@ Programming Types
 * Macro Type::          A method of expanding an expression into another
                           expression, more fundamental but less pretty.
 * Primitive Function Type::     A function written in C, callable from Lisp.
-* Byte-Code Type::      A function written in Lisp, then compiled.
+* Closure Type::        A function written in Lisp, then compiled.
 * Record Type::         Compound objects with programmer-defined types.
 * Type Descriptors::    Objects holding information about types.
 * Autoload Type::       A type used for automatically loading seldom-used
@@ -657,7 +657,7 @@ Byte Compilation
 * Docs and Compilation::    Dynamic loading of documentation strings.
 * Eval During Compile::     Code to be evaluated when you compile.
 * Compiler Errors::         Handling compiler error messages.
-* Byte-Code Objects::       The data type used for byte-compiled functions.
+* Closure Objects::         The data type used for byte-compiled functions.
 * Disassembly::             Disassembling byte-code; how to read byte-code.
 
 Native Compilation
diff --git a/doc/lispref/functions.texi b/doc/lispref/functions.texi
index ff635fc54b2..c57de08460f 100644
--- a/doc/lispref/functions.texi
+++ b/doc/lispref/functions.texi
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ it also encloses an environment of lexical variable bindings.
 
 @item byte-code function
 A function that has been compiled by the byte compiler.
-@xref{Byte-Code Type}.
+@xref{Closure Type}.
 
 @item autoload object
 @cindex autoload object
@@ -227,6 +227,16 @@ Compilation}), or natively-compiled (@pxref{Native Compilation}), or
 a function loaded from a dynamic module (@pxref{Dynamic Modules}).
 @end defun
 
+@defun interpreted-function-p object
+This function returns @code{t} if @var{object} is an interpreted function.
+@end defun
+
+@defun closurep object
+This function returns @code{t} if @var{object} is a closure, which is
+a particular kind of function object.  Currently closures are used
+for all byte-code functions and all interpreted functions.
+@end defun
+
 @defun subr-arity subr
 This works like @code{func-arity}, but only for built-in functions and
 without symbol indirection.  It signals an error for non-built-in
@@ -1136,8 +1146,7 @@ Functions}).  @xref{describe-symbols example}, for a realistic example
 of this.
 
   When defining a lambda expression that is to be used as an anonymous
-function, you can in principle use any method to construct the list.
-But typically you should use the @code{lambda} macro, or the
+function, you should use the @code{lambda} macro, or the
 @code{function} special form, or the @code{#'} read syntax:
 
 @defmac lambda args [doc] [interactive] body@dots{}
@@ -1145,17 +1154,18 @@ This macro returns an anonymous function with argument list
 @var{args}, documentation string @var{doc} (if any), interactive spec
 @var{interactive} (if any), and body forms given by @var{body}.
 
-Under dynamic binding, this macro effectively makes @code{lambda}
-forms self-quoting: evaluating a form whose @sc{car} is @code{lambda}
-yields the form itself:
+For example, this macro makes @code{lambda} forms almost self-quoting:
+evaluating a form whose @sc{car} is @code{lambda} yields a value that is
+almost like the form itself:
 
 @example
 (lambda (x) (* x x))
-     @result{} (lambda (x) (* x x))
+     @result{} #f(lambda (x) :dynbind (* x x))
 @end example
 
-Note that when evaluating under lexical binding the result is a
-closure object (@pxref{Closures}).
+When evaluating under lexical binding the result is a similar
+closure object, where the @code{:dynbind} marker is replaced by the
+captured variables (@pxref{Closures}).
 
 The @code{lambda} form has one other effect: it tells the Emacs
 evaluator and byte-compiler that its argument is a function, by using
@@ -1164,8 +1174,8 @@ evaluator and byte-compiler that its argument is a function, by using
 
 @defspec function function-object
 @cindex function quoting
-This special form returns @var{function-object} without evaluating it.
-In this, it is similar to @code{quote} (@pxref{Quoting}).  But unlike
+This special form returns the function value of the @var{function-object}.
+In many ways, it is similar to @code{quote} (@pxref{Quoting}).  But unlike
 @code{quote}, it also serves as a note to the Emacs evaluator and
 byte-compiler that @var{function-object} is intended to be used as a
 function.  Assuming @var{function-object} is a valid lambda
@@ -1495,7 +1505,7 @@ distinguish between a function cell that is void and one set to
 @group
 (defun bar (n) (+ n 2))
 (symbol-function 'bar)
-     @result{} (lambda (n) (+ n 2))
+     @result{} #f(lambda (n) [t] (+ n 2))
 @end group
 @group
 (fset 'baz 'bar)
@@ -1608,7 +1618,7 @@ argument list and body forms as the remaining elements:
 @example
 ;; @r{lexical binding is enabled.}
 (lambda (x) (* x x))
-     @result{} (closure (t) (x) (* x x))
+     @result{} #f(lambda (x) [t] (* x x))
 @end example
 
 @noindent
diff --git a/doc/lispref/lists.texi b/doc/lispref/lists.texi
index 1409e51c0d4..06472539744 100644
--- a/doc/lispref/lists.texi
+++ b/doc/lispref/lists.texi
@@ -1249,7 +1249,7 @@ this is not guaranteed to happen):
 
 @group
 (symbol-function 'add-foo)
-     @result{} (lambda (x) (nconc '(foo) x))
+     @result{} #f(lambda (x) [t] (nconc '(foo) x))
 @end group
 
 @group
@@ -1267,7 +1267,7 @@ this is not guaranteed to happen):
 
 @group
 (symbol-function 'add-foo)
-     @result{} (lambda (x) (nconc '(foo 1 2 3 4) x))
+     @result{} #f(lambda (x) [t] (nconc '(foo 1 2 3 4) x))
 @end group
 @end smallexample
 @end defun
diff --git a/doc/lispref/objects.texi b/doc/lispref/objects.texi
index aa1e073042f..cf703aba9c8 100644
--- a/doc/lispref/objects.texi
+++ b/doc/lispref/objects.texi
@@ -244,7 +244,7 @@ latter are unique to Emacs Lisp.
 * Macro Type::          A method of expanding an expression into another
                           expression, more fundamental but less pretty.
 * Primitive Function Type::     A function written in C, callable from Lisp.
-* Byte-Code Type::      A function written in Lisp, then compiled.
+* Closure Type::        A function written in Lisp.
 * Record Type::         Compound objects with programmer-defined types.
 * Type Descriptors::    Objects holding information about types.
 * Autoload Type::       A type used for automatically loading seldom-used
@@ -1458,18 +1458,24 @@ with the name of the subroutine.
 @end group
 @end example
 
-@node Byte-Code Type
-@subsection Byte-Code Function Type
+@node Closure Type
+@subsection Closure Function Type
 
-@dfn{Byte-code function objects} are produced by byte-compiling Lisp
-code (@pxref{Byte Compilation}).  Internally, a byte-code function
-object is much like a vector; however, the evaluator handles this data
-type specially when it appears in a function call.  @xref{Byte-Code
-Objects}.
+@dfn{Closures} are function objects produced when turning a function
+definition into a function value.  Closures are used both for
+byte-compiled Lisp functions as well as for interpreted Lisp functions.
+Closures can be produced by byte-compiling Lisp code (@pxref{Byte
+Compilation}) or simply by evaluating a lambda expression without
+compiling it, resulting in an interpreted function.  Internally,
+a closure is much like a vector; however, the evaluator
+handles this data type specially when it appears in a function call.
+@xref{Closure Objects}.
 
 The printed representation and read syntax for a byte-code function
 object is like that for a vector, with an additional @samp{#} before the
-opening @samp{[}.
+opening @samp{[}.  When printed for human consumption, it is printed as
+a special kind of list with an additional @samp{#f} before the opening
+@samp{(}.
 
 @node Record Type
 @subsection Record Type
@@ -2042,10 +2048,7 @@ with references to further information.
 @xref{Buffer Basics, bufferp}.
 
 @item byte-code-function-p
-@xref{Byte-Code Type, byte-code-function-p}.
-
-@item compiled-function-p
-@xref{Byte-Code Type, compiled-function-p}.
+@xref{Closure Type, byte-code-function-p}.
 
 @item case-table-p
 @xref{Case Tables, case-table-p}.
@@ -2056,9 +2059,15 @@ with references to further information.
 @item char-table-p
 @xref{Char-Tables, char-table-p}.
 
+@item closurep
+@xref{What Is a Function, closurep}.
+
 @item commandp
 @xref{Interactive Call, commandp}.
 
+@item compiled-function-p
+@xref{Closure Type, compiled-function-p}.
+
 @item condition-variable-p
 @xref{Condition Variables, condition-variable-p}.
 
@@ -2098,6 +2107,9 @@ with references to further information.
 @item integerp
 @xref{Predicates on Numbers, integerp}.
 
+@item interpreted-function-p
+@xref{What Is a Function, interpreted-function-p}.
+
 @item keymapp
 @xref{Creating Keymaps, keymapp}.
 
diff --git a/doc/lispref/sequences.texi b/doc/lispref/sequences.texi
index c9e47624878..4c5525f10c5 100644
--- a/doc/lispref/sequences.texi
+++ b/doc/lispref/sequences.texi
@@ -1583,7 +1583,7 @@ nonempty vector that is not @code{eq} to any existing vector.
 
 The @code{vconcat} function also allows byte-code function objects as
 arguments.  This is a special feature to make it easy to access the entire
-contents of a byte-code function object.  @xref{Byte-Code Objects}.
+contents of a byte-code function object.  @xref{Closure Objects}.
 
 For other concatenation functions, see @code{mapconcat} in @ref{Mapping
 Functions}, @code{concat} in @ref{Creating Strings}, and @code{append}
diff --git a/doc/lispref/variables.texi b/doc/lispref/variables.texi
index 4d61d461deb..16b6b52e5f1 100644
--- a/doc/lispref/variables.texi
+++ b/doc/lispref/variables.texi
@@ -1079,7 +1079,7 @@ Here is an example:
 (let ((x 0))             ; @r{@code{x} is lexically bound.}
   (setq my-ticker (lambda ()
                     (setq x (1+ x)))))
-    @result{} (closure ((x . 0)) ()
+    @result{} #f(lambda () [(x 0)]
           (setq x (1+ x)))
 
 (funcall my-ticker)
diff --git a/etc/NEWS b/etc/NEWS
index 78a1307b6a4..7c390d43fa3 100644
--- a/etc/NEWS
+++ b/etc/NEWS
@@ -1741,6 +1741,23 @@ documentation and examples.
 * Incompatible Lisp Changes in Emacs 30.1
 
 +++
+** Evaluating a 'lambda' returns an object of type 'interpreted-function'.
+Instead of representing interpreted functions as lists that start with
+either 'lambda' or 'closure', Emacs now represents them as objects
+of their own 'interpreted-function' type, which is very similar
+to 'byte-code-function' objects (the argument list, docstring, and
+interactive forms are placed in the same slots).
+Lists that start with 'lambda' are now used only for non-evaluated
+functions (in other words, for source code), but for backward compatibility
+reasons, 'functionp' still recognizes them as functions and you can
+still call them as before.
+Thus code that attempts to "dig" into the internal structure of an
+interpreted function's object with the likes of 'car' or 'cdr' will
+no longer work and will need to use 'aref' used instead to extract its
+various subparts (when 'interactive-form', 'documentation', and
+'help-function-arglist' aren't adequate).
+
++++
 ** 'define-globalized-minor-mode' requires that modes use 'run-mode-hooks'.
 Minor modes defined with 'define-globalized-minor-mode', such as
 'global-font-lock-mode', will not be enabled any more in those buffers
@@ -1879,6 +1896,14 @@ unibyte string.
 
 * Lisp Changes in Emacs 30.1
 
+** New types 'closure' and 'interpreted-function'.
+'interpreted-function' is the new type used for interpreted functions,
+and 'closure' is the common parent type of 'interpreted-function'
+and 'byte-code-function'.
+Those new types come with the associated new predicates
+'closurep' and `interpreted-function-p' as well as a new constructor
+'make-interpreted-closure'.
+
 ** New function 'help-fns-function-name'.
 For named functions, it just returns the name and otherwise
 it returns a short "unique" string that identifies the function.
diff --git a/lisp/emacs-lisp/byte-opt.el b/lisp/emacs-lisp/byte-opt.el
index ea163723a3e..3d6b35422b8 100644
--- a/lisp/emacs-lisp/byte-opt.el
+++ b/lisp/emacs-lisp/byte-opt.el
@@ -164,7 +164,7 @@ Earlier variables shadow later ones with the same name.")
        ;; The byte-code will be really inlined in byte-compile-unfold-bcf.
        (byte-compile--check-arity-bytecode form fn)
        `(,fn ,@(cdr form)))
-      ((or `(lambda . ,_) `(closure . ,_))
+      ((pred interpreted-function-p)
        ;; While byte-compile-unfold-bcf can inline dynbind byte-code into
        ;; letbind byte-code (or any other combination for that matter), we
        ;; can only inline dynbind source into dynbind source or lexbind
@@ -1870,6 +1870,7 @@ See Info node `(elisp) Integer Basics'."
          charsetp
          ;; data.c
          arrayp atom bare-symbol-p bool-vector-p bufferp byte-code-function-p
+         interpreted-function-p closurep
          byteorder car-safe cdr-safe char-or-string-p char-table-p
          condition-variable-p consp eq floatp indirect-function
          integer-or-marker-p integerp keywordp listp markerp
diff --git a/lisp/emacs-lisp/bytecomp.el b/lisp/emacs-lisp/bytecomp.el
index fb3278c08ab..59aa9098768 100644
--- a/lisp/emacs-lisp/bytecomp.el
+++ b/lisp/emacs-lisp/bytecomp.el
@@ -2900,9 +2900,14 @@ otherwise, print without quoting."
 (defun byte-compile--reify-function (fun)
   "Return an expression which will evaluate to a function value FUN.
 FUN should be an interpreted closure."
-  (pcase-let* ((`(closure ,env ,args . ,body) fun)
-               (`(,preamble . ,body) (macroexp-parse-body body))
-               (renv ()))
+  (let* ((args (aref fun 0))
+         (body (aref fun 1))
+         (env (aref fun 2))
+         (docstring (function-documentation fun))
+         (iform (interactive-form fun))
+         (preamble `(,@(if docstring (list docstring))
+                     ,@(if iform (list iform))))
+         (renv ()))
     ;; Turn the function's closed vars (if any) into local let bindings.
     (dolist (binding env)
       (cond
@@ -2939,11 +2944,11 @@ If FORM is a lambda or a macro, byte-compile it as a function."
                  (if (symbolp form) form "provided"))
         fun)
        (t
-        (when (or (symbolp form) (eq (car-safe fun) 'closure))
+        (when (or (symbolp form) (interpreted-function-p fun))
           ;; `fun' is a function *value*, so try to recover its
           ;; corresponding source code.
-          (when (setq lexical-binding (eq (car-safe fun) 'closure))
-            (setq fun (byte-compile--reify-function fun)))
+          (setq lexical-binding (not (null (aref fun 2))))
+          (setq fun (byte-compile--reify-function fun))
           (setq need-a-value t))
         ;; Expand macros.
         (setq fun (byte-compile-preprocess fun))
@@ -5133,7 +5138,6 @@ binding slots have been popped."
             ;; `arglist' is the list of arguments (or t if not recognized).
             ;; `body' is the body of `lam' (or t if not recognized).
             ((or `(lambda ,arglist . ,body)
-                 ;; `(closure ,_ ,arglist . ,body)
                  (and `(internal-make-closure ,arglist . ,_) (let body t))
                  (and (let arglist t) (let body t)))
              lam))
diff --git a/lisp/emacs-lisp/cconv.el b/lisp/emacs-lisp/cconv.el
index 4ff47971351..e6a78f07762 100644
--- a/lisp/emacs-lisp/cconv.el
+++ b/lisp/emacs-lisp/cconv.el
@@ -902,7 +902,7 @@ lexically and dynamically bound symbols actually used by FORM."
                                     (delete-dups cconv--dynbindings)))))
         (cons fvs dyns)))))
 
-(defun cconv-make-interpreted-closure (fun env)
+(defun cconv-make-interpreted-closure (args body env docstring iform)
   "Make a closure for the interpreter.
 This is intended to be called at runtime by the ELisp interpreter (when
 the code has not been compiled).
@@ -911,22 +911,27 @@ ENV is the runtime representation of the lexical environment,
 i.e. a list whose elements can be either plain symbols (which indicate
 that this symbol should use dynamic scoping) or pairs (SYMBOL . VALUE)
 for the lexical bindings."
-  (cl-assert (eq (car-safe fun) 'lambda))
+  (cl-assert (consp body))
+  (cl-assert (listp args))
   (let ((lexvars (delq nil (mapcar #'car-safe env))))
-    (if (or (null lexvars)
-            ;; Functions with a `:closure-dont-trim-context' marker
-            ;; should keep their whole context untrimmed (bug#59213).
-            (and (eq :closure-dont-trim-context (nth 2 fun))
-                 ;; Check the function doesn't just return the magic keyword.
-                 (nthcdr 3 fun)))
+    (if (or
+         ;; Functions with a `:closure-dont-trim-context' marker
+         ;; should keep their whole context untrimmed (bug#59213).
+         (and (eq :closure-dont-trim-context (car body))
+              ;; Check the function doesn't just return the magic keyword.
+              (cdr body)
+              ;; Drop the magic marker from the closure.
+              (setq body (cdr body)))
+         ;; There's no var to capture, so skip the analysis.
+         (null lexvars))
         ;; The lexical environment is empty, or needs to be preserved,
         ;; so there's no need to look for free variables.
-        ;; Attempting to replace ,(cdr fun) by a macroexpanded version
-        ;; causes bootstrap to fail.
-        `(closure ,env . ,(cdr fun))
+        ;; Attempting to replace body by a macroexpanded version
+        ;; caused bootstrap to fail.
+        (make-interpreted-closure args body env docstring iform)
       ;; We could try and cache the result of the macroexpansion and
       ;; `cconv-fv' analysis.  Not sure it's worth the trouble.
-      (let* ((form `#',fun)
+      (let* ((form `#'(lambda ,args ,iform . ,body))
              (expanded-form
               (let ((lexical-binding t) ;; Tell macros which dialect is in use.
                     ;; Make the macro aware of any defvar declarations in scope.
@@ -935,10 +940,10 @@ for the lexical bindings."
                          (append env macroexp--dynvars) env)))
                 (macroexpand-all form macroexpand-all-environment)))
              ;; Since we macroexpanded the body, we may as well use that.
-             (expanded-fun-cdr
+             (expanded-fun-body
               (pcase expanded-form
-                (`#'(lambda . ,cdr) cdr)
-                (_ (cdr fun))))
+                (`#'(lambda ,_args ,_iform . ,newbody) newbody)
+                (_ body)))
 
              (dynvars (delq nil (mapcar (lambda (b) (if (symbolp b) b)) env)))
              (fvs (cconv-fv expanded-form lexvars dynvars))
@@ -946,7 +951,8 @@ for the lexical bindings."
                             (cdr fvs))))
         ;; Never return a nil env, since nil means to use the dynbind
         ;; dialect of ELisp.
-        `(closure ,(or newenv '(t)) . ,expanded-fun-cdr)))))
+        (make-interpreted-closure args expanded-fun-body (or newenv '(t))
+                                  docstring iform)))))
 
 
 (provide 'cconv)
diff --git a/lisp/emacs-lisp/cl-preloaded.el b/lisp/emacs-lisp/cl-preloaded.el
index 83d9e6ee220..fa745396b02 100644
--- a/lisp/emacs-lisp/cl-preloaded.el
+++ b/lisp/emacs-lisp/cl-preloaded.el
@@ -444,13 +444,24 @@ For this build of Emacs it's %dbit."
   )
 (cl--define-built-in-type compiled-function (function)
   "Abstract type of functions that have been compiled.")
-(cl--define-built-in-type byte-code-function (compiled-function)
+(cl--define-built-in-type closure (function)
+  "Abstract type of functions represented by a vector-like object.
+You can access the object's internals with `aref'.
+The fields are used as follows:
+
+  0 [args]       Argument list (either a list or an integer)
+  1 [code]       Either a byte-code string or a list of Lisp forms
+  2 [constants]  Either vector of constants or a lexical environment
+  3 [stackdepth] Maximum amount of stack depth used by the byte-code
+  4 [docstring]  The documentation, or a reference to it
+  5 [iform]      The interactive form (if present)")
+(cl--define-built-in-type byte-code-function (compiled-function closure)
   "Type of functions that have been byte-compiled.")
 (cl--define-built-in-type subr (atom)
   "Abstract type of functions compiled to machine code.")
 (cl--define-built-in-type module-function (function)
   "Type of functions provided via the module API.")
-(cl--define-built-in-type interpreted-function (function)
+(cl--define-built-in-type interpreted-function (closure)
   "Type of functions that have not been compiled.")
 (cl--define-built-in-type special-form (subr)
   "Type of the core syntactic elements of the Emacs Lisp language.")
diff --git a/lisp/emacs-lisp/cl-print.el b/lisp/emacs-lisp/cl-print.el
index 5e5eee1da9e..3a8f80f6e93 100644
--- a/lisp/emacs-lisp/cl-print.el
+++ b/lisp/emacs-lisp/cl-print.el
@@ -237,6 +237,38 @@ into a button whose action shows the function's disassembly.")
                               'byte-code-function object)))))
     (princ ")" stream)))
 
+(cl-defmethod cl-print-object ((object interpreted-function) stream)
+  (unless stream (setq stream standard-output))
+  (princ "#f(lambda " stream)
+  (let ((args (help-function-arglist object 'preserve-names)))
+    ;; It's tempting to print the arglist from the "usage" info in the
+    ;; doc (e.g. for `&key` args), but that only makes sense if we
+    ;; *don't* print the body, since otherwise the body will tend to
+    ;; refer to args that don't appear in the arglist.
+    (if args
+        (prin1 args stream)
+      (princ "()" stream)))
+  (let ((env (aref object 2)))
+    (if (null env)
+        (princ " :dynbind" stream)
+      (princ " " stream)
+      (cl-print-object
+       (vconcat (mapcar (lambda (x) (if (consp x) (list (car x) (cdr x)) x))
+                        env))
+       stream)))
+  (let* ((doc (documentation object 'raw)))
+    (when doc
+      (princ " " stream)
+      (prin1 doc stream)))
+  (let ((inter (interactive-form object)))
+    (when inter
+      (princ " " stream)
+      (cl-print-object inter stream)))
+  (dolist (exp (aref object 1))
+    (princ " " stream)
+    (cl-print-object exp stream))
+  (princ ")" stream))
+
 ;; This belongs in oclosure.el, of course, but some load-ordering issues make it
 ;; complicated.
 (cl-defmethod cl-print-object ((object accessor) stream)
diff --git a/lisp/emacs-lisp/comp-common.el b/lisp/emacs-lisp/comp-common.el
index 4edfe811586..62fd28f772e 100644
--- a/lisp/emacs-lisp/comp-common.el
+++ b/lisp/emacs-lisp/comp-common.el
@@ -118,7 +118,9 @@ Used to modify the compiler environment."
     (buffer-substring
      (function ((or integer marker) (or integer marker)) string))
     (bufferp (function (t) boolean))
+    (closurep (function (t) boolean))
     (byte-code-function-p (function (t) boolean))
+    (interpreted-function-p (function (t) boolean))
     (capitalize (function ((or integer string)) (or integer string)))
     (car (function (list) t))
     (car-less-than-car (function (list list) boolean))
diff --git a/lisp/emacs-lisp/disass.el b/lisp/emacs-lisp/disass.el
index 850cc2085f7..15caee9b29c 100644
--- a/lisp/emacs-lisp/disass.el
+++ b/lisp/emacs-lisp/disass.el
@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@ redefine OBJECT if it is a symbol."
            (setq args (help-function-arglist obj))      ;save arg list
            (setq obj (cdr obj))         ;throw lambda away
            (setq obj (cdr obj)))
-          ((byte-code-function-p obj)
+          ((closurep obj)
            (setq args (help-function-arglist obj)))
           (t (error "Compilation failed")))
     (if (zerop indent) ; not a nested function
@@ -178,7 +178,9 @@ redefine OBJECT if it is a symbol."
           (t
            (insert "Uncompiled body:  ")
            (let ((print-escape-newlines t))
-             (prin1 (macroexp-progn obj)
+             (prin1 (macroexp-progn (if (interpreted-function-p obj)
+                                        (aref obj 1)
+                                      obj))
                     (current-buffer))))))
   (if interactive-p
       (message "")))
diff --git a/lisp/emacs-lisp/edebug.el b/lisp/emacs-lisp/edebug.el
index b27ffbca908..3414bb592c0 100644
--- a/lisp/emacs-lisp/edebug.el
+++ b/lisp/emacs-lisp/edebug.el
@@ -4254,7 +4254,7 @@ code location is known."
           ((pred edebug--symbol-prefixed-p) nil)
           (_
            (when (and skip-next-lambda
-                      (not (memq (car-safe fun) '(closure lambda))))
+                      (not (interpreted-function-p fun)))
              (warn "Edebug--strip-instrumentation expected an interpreted function:\n%S" fun))
            (unless skip-next-lambda
              (edebug--unwrap-frame new-frame)
diff --git a/lisp/emacs-lisp/lisp-mode.el b/lisp/emacs-lisp/lisp-mode.el
index 3475d944337..601cc7bf712 100644
--- a/lisp/emacs-lisp/lisp-mode.el
+++ b/lisp/emacs-lisp/lisp-mode.el
@@ -1347,7 +1347,6 @@ Lisp function does not specify a special indentation."
 (put 'condition-case 'lisp-indent-function 2)
 (put 'handler-case 'lisp-indent-function 1) ;CL
 (put 'unwind-protect 'lisp-indent-function 1)
-(put 'closure 'lisp-indent-function 2)
 
 (defun indent-sexp (&optional endpos)
   "Indent each line of the list starting just after point.
diff --git a/lisp/emacs-lisp/nadvice.el b/lisp/emacs-lisp/nadvice.el
index 5326c520601..36df143a82a 100644
--- a/lisp/emacs-lisp/nadvice.el
+++ b/lisp/emacs-lisp/nadvice.el
@@ -185,7 +185,7 @@ DOC is a string where \"FUNCTION\" and \"OLDFUN\" are expected.")
 (defun advice--interactive-form-1 (function)
   "Like `interactive-form' but preserves the static context if needed."
   (let ((if (interactive-form function)))
-    (if (or (null if) (not (eq 'closure (car-safe function))))
+    (if (not (and if (interpreted-function-p function)))
         if
       (cl-assert (eq 'interactive (car if)))
       (let ((form (cadr if)))
@@ -193,14 +193,14 @@ DOC is a string where \"FUNCTION\" and \"OLDFUN\" are expected.")
             if
           ;; The interactive is expected to be run in the static context
           ;; that the function captured.
-          (let ((ctx (nth 1 function)))
+          (let ((ctx (aref function 2)))
             `(interactive
               ,(let* ((f (if (eq 'function (car-safe form)) (cadr form) form)))
                  ;; If the form jut returns a function, preserve the fact that
                  ;; it just returns a function, which is an info we use in
                  ;; `advice--make-interactive-form'.
                  (if (eq 'lambda (car-safe f))
-                     `',(eval form ctx)
+                     (eval form ctx)
                    `(eval ',form ',ctx))))))))))
 
 (defun advice--interactive-form (function)
diff --git a/lisp/emacs-lisp/oclosure.el b/lisp/emacs-lisp/oclosure.el
index 4da8e61aaa7..165d7c4b6e8 100644
--- a/lisp/emacs-lisp/oclosure.el
+++ b/lisp/emacs-lisp/oclosure.el
@@ -146,7 +146,7 @@
 (setf (cl--find-class 'oclosure)
       (oclosure--class-make 'oclosure
                             "The root parent of all OClosure types"
-                            nil (list (cl--find-class 'function))
+                            nil (list (cl--find-class 'closure))
                             '(oclosure)))
 (defun oclosure--p (oclosure)
   (not (not (oclosure-type oclosure))))
@@ -431,75 +431,57 @@ ARGS and BODY are the same as for `lambda'."
 
 (defun oclosure--fix-type (_ignore oclosure)
   "Helper function to implement `oclosure-lambda' via a macro.
-This has 2 uses:
-- For interpreted code, this converts the representation of type information
-  by moving it from the docstring to the environment.
-- For compiled code, this is used as a marker which cconv uses to check that
-  immutable fields are indeed not mutated."
-  (if (byte-code-function-p oclosure)
-      ;; Actually, this should never happen since `cconv.el' should have
-      ;; optimized away the call to this function.
-      oclosure
-    ;; For byte-coded functions, we store the type as a symbol in the docstring
-    ;; slot.  For interpreted functions, there's no specific docstring slot
-    ;; so `Ffunction' turns the symbol into a string.
-    ;; We thus have convert it back into a symbol (via `intern') and then
-    ;; stuff it into the environment part of the closure with a special
-    ;; marker so we can distinguish this entry from actual variables.
-    (cl-assert (eq 'closure (car-safe oclosure)))
-    (let ((typename (nth 3 oclosure))) ;; The "docstring".
-      (cl-assert (stringp typename))
-      (push (cons :type (intern typename))
-            (cadr oclosure))
-      oclosure)))
+This is used as a marker which cconv uses to check that
+immutable fields are indeed not mutated."
+  (cl-assert (closurep oclosure))
+  ;; This should happen only for interpreted closures since `cconv.el'
+  ;; should have optimized away the call to this function.
+  oclosure)
 
 (defun oclosure--copy (oclosure mutlist &rest args)
+  (cl-assert (closurep oclosure))
   (if (byte-code-function-p oclosure)
       (apply #'make-closure oclosure
              (if (null mutlist)
                  args
                (mapcar (lambda (arg) (if (pop mutlist) (list arg) arg)) args)))
-    (cl-assert (eq 'closure (car-safe oclosure))
-               nil "oclosure not closure: %S" oclosure)
-    (cl-assert (eq :type (caar (cadr oclosure))))
-    (let ((env (cadr oclosure)))
-      `(closure
-           (,(car env)
-            ,@(named-let loop ((env (cdr env)) (args args))
-                (when args
-                  (cons (cons (caar env) (car args))
-                        (loop (cdr env) (cdr args)))))
-            ,@(nthcdr (1+ (length args)) env))
-           ,@(nthcdr 2 oclosure)))))
+    (cl-assert (consp (aref oclosure 1)))
+    (cl-assert (null (aref oclosure 3)))
+    (cl-assert (symbolp (aref oclosure 4)))
+    (let ((env (aref oclosure 2)))
+      (make-interpreted-closure
+       (aref oclosure 0)
+       (aref oclosure 1)
+       (named-let loop ((env env) (args args))
+         (if (null args) env
+           (cons (cons (caar env) (car args))
+                 (loop (cdr env) (cdr args)))))
+       (aref oclosure 4)
+       (if (> (length oclosure) 5)
+           `(interactive ,(aref oclosure 5)))))))
 
 (defun oclosure--get (oclosure index mutable)
-  (if (byte-code-function-p oclosure)
-      (let* ((csts (aref oclosure 2))
-             (v (aref csts index)))
-        (if mutable (car v) v))
-    (cl-assert (eq 'closure (car-safe oclosure)))
-    (cl-assert (eq :type (caar (cadr oclosure))))
-    (cdr (nth (1+ index) (cadr oclosure)))))
+  (cl-assert (closurep oclosure))
+  (let* ((csts (aref oclosure 2)))
+    (if (vectorp csts)
+        (let ((v (aref csts index)))
+          (if mutable (car v) v))
+      (cdr (nth index csts)))))
 
 (defun oclosure--set (v oclosure index)
-  (if (byte-code-function-p oclosure)
-      (let* ((csts (aref oclosure 2))
-             (cell (aref csts index)))
-        (setcar cell v))
-    (cl-assert (eq 'closure (car-safe oclosure)))
-    (cl-assert (eq :type (caar (cadr oclosure))))
-    (setcdr (nth (1+ index) (cadr oclosure)) v)))
+  (cl-assert (closurep oclosure))
+  (let ((csts (aref oclosure 2)))
+    (if (vectorp csts)
+        (let ((cell (aref csts index)))
+          (setcar cell v))
+      (setcdr (nth index csts) v))))
 
 (defun oclosure-type (oclosure)
-  "Return the type of OCLOSURE, or nil if the arg is not a OClosure."
-  (if (byte-code-function-p oclosure)
-      (let ((type (and (> (length oclosure) 4) (aref oclosure 4))))
-        (if (symbolp type) type))
-    (and (eq 'closure (car-safe oclosure))
-         (let* ((env (car-safe (cdr oclosure)))
-                (first-var (car-safe env)))
-           (and (eq :type (car-safe first-var))
-                (cdr first-var))))))
+  "Return the type of OCLOSURE, or nil if the arg is not an OClosure."
+  (and (closurep oclosure)
+       (> (length oclosure) 4)
+       (let ((type (aref oclosure 4)))
+         (if (symbolp type) type))))
 
 (defconst oclosure--accessor-prototype
   ;; Use `oclosure--lambda' to circumvent a bootstrapping problem:
diff --git a/lisp/help.el b/lisp/help.el
index d4e39f04e53..10bd2ffec3f 100644
--- a/lisp/help.el
+++ b/lisp/help.el
@@ -2349,9 +2349,8 @@ the same names as used in the original source code, when possible."
   ;; If definition is a macro, find the function inside it.
   (if (eq (car-safe def) 'macro) (setq def (cdr def)))
   (cond
-   ((and (byte-code-function-p def) (listp (aref def 0))) (aref def 0))
+   ((and (closurep def) (listp (aref def 0))) (aref def 0))
    ((eq (car-safe def) 'lambda) (nth 1 def))
-   ((eq (car-safe def) 'closure) (nth 2 def))
    ((and (featurep 'native-compile)
          (subrp def)
          (listp (subr-native-lambda-list def)))
diff --git a/lisp/profiler.el b/lisp/profiler.el
index 4e02cd1d890..eb72f128c07 100644
--- a/lisp/profiler.el
+++ b/lisp/profiler.el
@@ -275,10 +275,7 @@ Optional argument MODE means only check for the specified mode (cpu or mem)."
 
 
 (define-hash-table-test 'profiler-function-equal #'function-equal
-  (lambda (f) (cond
-          ((byte-code-function-p f) (aref f 1))
-          ((eq (car-safe f) 'closure) (cddr f))
-          (t f))))
+                        (lambda (f) (if (closurep f) (aref f 1) f)))
 
 (defun profiler-calltree-build-unified (tree log)
   ;; Let's try to unify all those partial backtraces into a single
diff --git a/lisp/simple.el b/lisp/simple.el
index e4629ce3db7..be64f3574e0 100644
--- a/lisp/simple.el
+++ b/lisp/simple.el
@@ -2703,15 +2703,14 @@ function as needed."
                        (or (stringp doc)
                            (fixnump doc) (fixnump (cdr-safe doc))))))
     (pcase function
-      ((pred byte-code-function-p)
+      ((pred closurep)
        (when (> (length function) 4)
          (let ((doc (aref function 4)))
            (when (funcall docstring-p doc) doc))))
       ((or (pred stringp) (pred vectorp)) "Keyboard macro.")
       (`(keymap . ,_)
        "Prefix command (definition is a keymap associating keystrokes with commands).")
-      ((or `(lambda ,_args . ,body) `(closure ,_env ,_args . ,body)
-           `(autoload ,_file . ,body))
+      ((or `(lambda ,_args . ,body) `(autoload ,_file . ,body))
        (let ((doc (car body)))
          (when (funcall docstring-p doc)
            doc)))
diff --git a/src/callint.c b/src/callint.c
index b31faba8704..9d6f2ab2888 100644
--- a/src/callint.c
+++ b/src/callint.c
@@ -319,10 +319,10 @@ invoke it (via an `interactive' spec that contains, for instance, an
     {
       Lisp_Object funval = Findirect_function (function, Qt);
       uintmax_t events = num_input_events;
+      Lisp_Object env = CLOSUREP (funval) && CONSP (AREF (funval, CLOSURE_CODE))
+                        ? AREF (funval, CLOSURE_CONSTANTS) : Qnil;
       /* Compute the arg values using the user's expression.  */
-      specs = Feval (specs,
-                     CONSP (funval) && EQ (Qclosure, XCAR (funval))
-                     ? CAR_SAFE (XCDR (funval)) : Qnil);
+      specs = Feval (specs, env);
       if (events != num_input_events || !NILP (record_flag))
         {
           /* We should record this command on the command history.
diff --git a/src/data.c b/src/data.c
index 681054ff8cb..ea611ad1abf 100644
--- a/src/data.c
+++ b/src/data.c
@@ -248,7 +248,9 @@ a fixed set of types.  */)
           return XSUBR (object)->max_args == UNEVALLED ? Qspecial_form
                  : SUBR_NATIVE_COMPILEDP (object) ? Qsubr_native_elisp
                  : Qprimitive_function;
-        case PVEC_CLOSURE: return Qcompiled_function;
+        case PVEC_CLOSURE:
+          return CONSP (AREF (object, CLOSURE_CODE))
+                 ? Qinterpreted_function : Qbyte_code_function;
         case PVEC_BUFFER: return Qbuffer;
         case PVEC_CHAR_TABLE: return Qchar_table;
         case PVEC_BOOL_VECTOR: return Qbool_vector;
@@ -518,12 +520,32 @@ DEFUN ("subrp", Fsubrp, Ssubrp, 1, 1, 0,
   return Qnil;
 }
 
+DEFUN ("closurep", Fclosurep, Sclosurep,
+       1, 1, 0,
+       doc: /* Return t if OBJECT is a function of type `closure'.  */)
+  (Lisp_Object object)
+{
+  if (CLOSUREP (object))
+    return Qt;
+  return Qnil;
+}
+
 DEFUN ("byte-code-function-p", Fbyte_code_function_p, Sbyte_code_function_p,
        1, 1, 0,
        doc: /* Return t if OBJECT is a byte-compiled function object.  */)
   (Lisp_Object object)
 {
-  if (CLOSUREP (object))
+  if (CLOSUREP (object) && STRINGP (AREF (object, CLOSURE_CODE)))
+    return Qt;
+  return Qnil;
+}
+
+DEFUN ("interpreted-function-p", Finterpreted_function_p,
+       Sinterpreted_function_p, 1, 1, 0,
+       doc: /* Return t if OBJECT is a function of type `interpreted-function'.  */)
+  (Lisp_Object object)
+{
+  if (CLOSUREP (object) && CONSP (AREF (object, CLOSURE_CODE)))
     return Qt;
   return Qnil;
 }
@@ -1174,17 +1196,11 @@ Value, if non-nil, is a list (interactive SPEC).  */)
   else if (CONSP (fun))
     {
       Lisp_Object funcar = XCAR (fun);
-      if (EQ (funcar, Qclosure)
-          || EQ (funcar, Qlambda))
+      if (EQ (funcar, Qlambda))
         {
           Lisp_Object form = Fcdr (XCDR (fun));
-          if (EQ (funcar, Qclosure))
-            form = Fcdr (form);
           Lisp_Object spec = Fassq (Qinteractive, form);
-          if (NILP (spec) && VALID_DOCSTRING_P (CAR_SAFE (form)))
-            /* A "docstring" is a sign that we may have an OClosure.  */
-            genfun = true;
-          else if (NILP (Fcdr (Fcdr (spec))))
+          if (NILP (Fcdr (Fcdr (spec))))
             return spec;
           else
             return list2 (Qinteractive, Fcar (Fcdr (spec)));
@@ -1257,12 +1273,9 @@ The value, if non-nil, is a list of mode name symbols.  */)
   else if (CONSP (fun))
     {
       Lisp_Object funcar = XCAR (fun);
-      if (EQ (funcar, Qclosure)
-          || EQ (funcar, Qlambda))
+      if (EQ (funcar, Qlambda))
         {
           Lisp_Object form = Fcdr (XCDR (fun));
-          if (EQ (funcar, Qclosure))
-            form = Fcdr (form);
           return Fcdr (Fcdr (Fassq (Qinteractive, form)));
         }
     }
@@ -4224,7 +4237,8 @@ syms_of_data (void)
   DEFSYM (Qspecial_form, "special-form");
   DEFSYM (Qprimitive_function, "primitive-function");
   DEFSYM (Qsubr_native_elisp, "subr-native-elisp");
-  DEFSYM (Qcompiled_function, "compiled-function");
+  DEFSYM (Qbyte_code_function, "byte-code-function");
+  DEFSYM (Qinterpreted_function, "interpreted-function");
   DEFSYM (Qbuffer, "buffer");
   DEFSYM (Qframe, "frame");
   DEFSYM (Qvector, "vector");
@@ -4289,6 +4303,8 @@ syms_of_data (void)
   defsubr (&Smarkerp);
   defsubr (&Ssubrp);
   defsubr (&Sbyte_code_function_p);
+  defsubr (&Sinterpreted_function_p);
+  defsubr (&Sclosurep);
   defsubr (&Smodule_function_p);
   defsubr (&Schar_or_string_p);
   defsubr (&Sthreadp);
diff --git a/src/eval.c b/src/eval.c
index a7d860114cf..fd388706108 100644
--- a/src/eval.c
+++ b/src/eval.c
@@ -510,6 +510,33 @@ usage: (quote ARG)  */)
   return XCAR (args);
 }
 
+DEFUN ("make-interpreted-closure", Fmake_interpreted_closure,
+       Smake_interpreted_closure, 3, 5, 0,
+       doc: /* Make an interpreted closure.
+ARGS should be the list of formal arguments.
+BODY should be a non-empty list of forms.
+ENV should be a lexical environment, like the second argument of `eval'.
+IFORM if non-nil should be of the form (interactive ...).  */)
+  (Lisp_Object args, Lisp_Object body, Lisp_Object env,
+   Lisp_Object docstring, Lisp_Object iform)
+{
+  CHECK_CONS (body);          /* Make sure it's not confused with byte-code! */
+  CHECK_LIST (args);
+  CHECK_LIST (iform);
+  Lisp_Object ifcdr = Fcdr (iform);
+  Lisp_Object slots[] = { args,  body, env, Qnil, docstring,
+                          NILP (Fcdr (ifcdr))
+                          ? Fcar (ifcdr)
+                          : CALLN (Fvector, XCAR (ifcdr), XCDR (ifcdr)) };
+  /* Adjusting the size is indispensable since, as for byte-code objects,
+     we distinguish interactive functions by the presence or absence of the
+     iform slot.  */
+  Lisp_Object val
+    = Fvector (!NILP (iform) ? 6 : !NILP (docstring) ? 5 : 3, slots);
+  XSETPVECTYPE (XVECTOR (val), PVEC_CLOSURE);
+  return val;
+}
+
 DEFUN ("function", Ffunction, Sfunction, 1, UNEVALLED, 0,
        doc: /* Like `quote', but preferred for objects which are functions.
 In byte compilation, `function' causes its argument to be handled by
@@ -525,33 +552,55 @@ usage: (function ARG)  */)
   if (!NILP (XCDR (args)))
     xsignal2 (Qwrong_number_of_arguments, Qfunction, Flength (args));
 
-  if (!NILP (Vinternal_interpreter_environment)
-      && CONSP (quoted)
+  if (CONSP (quoted)
       && EQ (XCAR (quoted), Qlambda))
     { /* This is a lambda expression within a lexical environment;
          return an interpreted closure instead of a simple lambda.  */
       Lisp_Object cdr = XCDR (quoted);
-      Lisp_Object tmp = cdr;
-      if (CONSP (tmp)
-          && (tmp = XCDR (tmp), CONSP (tmp))
-          && (tmp = XCAR (tmp), CONSP (tmp))
-          && (EQ (QCdocumentation, XCAR (tmp))))
-        { /* Handle the special (:documentation <form>) to build the docstring
+      Lisp_Object args = Fcar (cdr);
+      cdr = Fcdr (cdr);
+      Lisp_Object docstring = Qnil, iform = Qnil;
+      if (CONSP (cdr))
+        {
+          docstring = XCAR (cdr);
+          if (STRINGP (docstring))
+            {
+              Lisp_Object tmp = XCDR (cdr);
+              if (!NILP (tmp))
+                cdr = tmp;
+              else     /* It's not a docstring, it's a return value.  */
+                docstring = Qnil;
+            }
+          /* Handle the special (:documentation <form>) to build the docstring
              dynamically.  */
-          Lisp_Object docstring = eval_sub (Fcar (XCDR (tmp)));
-          if (SYMBOLP (docstring) && !NILP (docstring))
-            /* Hack for OClosures: Allow the docstring to be a symbol
-             * (the OClosure's type).  */
-            docstring = Fsymbol_name (docstring);
-          CHECK_STRING (docstring);
-          cdr = Fcons (XCAR (cdr), Fcons (docstring, XCDR (XCDR (cdr))));
-        }
-      if (NILP (Vinternal_make_interpreted_closure_function))
-        return Fcons (Qclosure, Fcons (Vinternal_interpreter_environment, cdr));
+          else if (CONSP (docstring)
+                   && EQ (QCdocumentation, XCAR (docstring))
+                   && (docstring = eval_sub (Fcar (XCDR (docstring))),
+                       true))
+            cdr = XCDR (cdr);
+          else
+            docstring = Qnil;   /* Not a docstring after all.  */
+        }
+      if (CONSP (cdr))
+        {
+          iform = XCAR (cdr);
+          if (CONSP (iform)
+              && EQ (Qinteractive, XCAR (iform)))
+            cdr = XCDR (cdr);
+          else
+            iform = Qnil;   /* Not an interactive-form after all.  */
+        }
+      if (NILP (cdr))
+        cdr = Fcons (Qnil, Qnil); /* Make sure the body is never empty! */
+
+      if (NILP (Vinternal_interpreter_environment)
+          || NILP (Vinternal_make_interpreted_closure_function))
+        return Fmake_interpreted_closure
+            (args, cdr, Vinternal_interpreter_environment, docstring, iform);
       else
-        return call2 (Vinternal_make_interpreted_closure_function,
-                      Fcons (Qlambda, cdr),
-                      Vinternal_interpreter_environment);
+        return call5 (Vinternal_make_interpreted_closure_function,
+                      args, cdr, Vinternal_interpreter_environment,
+                      docstring, iform);
     }
   else
     /* Simply quote the argument.  */
@@ -2193,15 +2242,12 @@ then strings and vectors are not accepted.  */)
       else
         {
           Lisp_Object body = CDR_SAFE (XCDR (fun));
-          if (EQ (funcar, Qclosure))
-            body = CDR_SAFE (body);
-          else if (!EQ (funcar, Qlambda))
+          if (!EQ (funcar, Qlambda))
             return Qnil;
           if (!NILP (Fassq (Qinteractive, body)))
             return Qt;
-          else if (VALID_DOCSTRING_P (CAR_SAFE (body)))
-            /* A "docstring" is a sign that we may have an OClosure.  */
-            genfun = true;
+          else
+            return Qnil;
         }
     }
 
@@ -2611,8 +2657,7 @@ eval_sub (Lisp_Object form)
           exp = unbind_to (count1, exp);
           val = eval_sub (exp);
         }
-      else if (EQ (funcar, Qlambda)
-               || EQ (funcar, Qclosure))
+      else if (EQ (funcar, Qlambda))
         return apply_lambda (fun, original_args, count);
       else
         xsignal1 (Qinvalid_function, original_fun);
@@ -2950,7 +2995,7 @@ FUNCTIONP (Lisp_Object object)
   else if (CONSP (object))
     {
       Lisp_Object car = XCAR (object);
-      return EQ (car, Qlambda) || EQ (car, Qclosure);
+      return EQ (car, Qlambda);
     }
   else
     return false;
@@ -2980,8 +3025,7 @@ funcall_general (Lisp_Object fun, ptrdiff_t numargs, Lisp_Object *args)
       Lisp_Object funcar = XCAR (fun);
       if (!SYMBOLP (funcar))
         xsignal1 (Qinvalid_function, original_fun);
-      if (EQ (funcar, Qlambda)
-          || EQ (funcar, Qclosure))
+      if (EQ (funcar, Qlambda))
         return funcall_lambda (fun, numargs, args);
       else if (EQ (funcar, Qautoload))
         {
@@ -3165,16 +3209,7 @@ funcall_lambda (Lisp_Object fun, ptrdiff_t nargs, Lisp_Object *arg_vector)
 
   if (CONSP (fun))
     {
-      if (EQ (XCAR (fun), Qclosure))
-        {
-          Lisp_Object cdr = XCDR (fun); /* Drop `closure'.  */
-          if (! CONSP (cdr))
-            xsignal1 (Qinvalid_function, fun);
-          fun = cdr;
-          lexenv = XCAR (fun);
-        }
-      else
-        lexenv = Qnil;
+      lexenv = Qnil;
       syms_left = XCDR (fun);
       if (CONSP (syms_left))
         syms_left = XCAR (syms_left);
@@ -3189,10 +3224,12 @@ funcall_lambda (Lisp_Object fun, ptrdiff_t nargs, Lisp_Object *arg_vector)
          engine directly.  */
       if (FIXNUMP (syms_left))
         return exec_byte_code (fun, XFIXNUM (syms_left), nargs, arg_vector);
-      /* Otherwise the bytecode object uses dynamic binding and the
-         ARGLIST slot contains a standard formal argument list whose
-         variables are bound dynamically below.  */
-      lexenv = Qnil;
+      /* Otherwise the closure either is interpreted
+         or uses dynamic binding and the ARGLIST slot contains a standard
+         formal argument list whose variables are bound dynamically below.  */
+      lexenv = CONSP (AREF (fun, CLOSURE_CODE))
+               ? AREF (fun, CLOSURE_CONSTANTS)
+               : Qnil;
     }
 #ifdef HAVE_MODULES
   else if (MODULE_FUNCTIONP (fun))
@@ -3280,7 +3317,14 @@ funcall_lambda (Lisp_Object fun, ptrdiff_t nargs, Lisp_Object *arg_vector)
       val = XSUBR (fun)->function.a0 ();
     }
   else
-    val = exec_byte_code (fun, 0, 0, NULL);
+    {
+      eassert (CLOSUREP (fun));
+      val = CONSP (AREF (fun, CLOSURE_CODE))
+            /* Interpreted function.  */
+            ? Fprogn (AREF (fun, CLOSURE_CODE))
+            /* Dynbound bytecode.  */
+            : exec_byte_code (fun, 0, 0, NULL);
+    }
 
   return unbind_to (count, val);
 }
@@ -3330,8 +3374,7 @@ function with `&rest' args, or `unevalled' for a special form.  */)
       funcar = XCAR (function);
       if (!SYMBOLP (funcar))
         xsignal1 (Qinvalid_function, original);
-      if (EQ (funcar, Qlambda)
-          || EQ (funcar, Qclosure))
+      if (EQ (funcar, Qlambda))
         result = lambda_arity (function);
       else if (EQ (funcar, Qautoload))
         {
@@ -3352,11 +3395,6 @@ lambda_arity (Lisp_Object fun)
 
   if (CONSP (fun))
     {
-      if (EQ (XCAR (fun), Qclosure))
-        {
-          fun = XCDR (fun);     /* Drop `closure'.  */
-          CHECK_CONS (fun);
-        }
       syms_left = XCDR (fun);
       if (CONSP (syms_left))
         syms_left = XCAR (syms_left);
@@ -4265,7 +4303,6 @@ before making `inhibit-quit' nil.  */);
   DEFSYM (Qcommandp, "commandp");
   DEFSYM (Qand_rest, "&rest");
   DEFSYM (Qand_optional, "&optional");
-  DEFSYM (Qclosure, "closure");
   DEFSYM (QCdocumentation, ":documentation");
   DEFSYM (Qdebug, "debug");
   DEFSYM (Qdebug_early, "debug-early");
@@ -4423,6 +4460,7 @@ alist of active lexical bindings.  */);
   defsubr (&Ssetq);
   defsubr (&Squote);
   defsubr (&Sfunction);
+  defsubr (&Smake_interpreted_closure);
   defsubr (&Sdefault_toplevel_value);
   defsubr (&Sset_default_toplevel_value);
   defsubr (&Sdefvar);
diff --git a/src/lread.c b/src/lread.c
index 8b614e6220e..983fdb883ff 100644
--- a/src/lread.c
+++ b/src/lread.c
@@ -3523,25 +3523,32 @@ bytecode_from_rev_list (Lisp_Object elems, Lisp_Object readcharfun)
         }
     }
 
-  if (!(size >= CLOSURE_STACK_DEPTH + 1 && size <= CLOSURE_INTERACTIVE + 1
+  if (!(size >= CLOSURE_STACK_DEPTH && size <= CLOSURE_INTERACTIVE + 1
         && (FIXNUMP (vec[CLOSURE_ARGLIST])
             || CONSP (vec[CLOSURE_ARGLIST])
             || NILP (vec[CLOSURE_ARGLIST]))
-        && STRINGP (vec[CLOSURE_CODE])
-        && VECTORP (vec[CLOSURE_CONSTANTS])
-        && FIXNATP (vec[CLOSURE_STACK_DEPTH])))
+        && ((STRINGP (vec[CLOSURE_CODE]) /* Byte-code function.  */
+             && VECTORP (vec[CLOSURE_CONSTANTS])
+             && size > CLOSURE_STACK_DEPTH
+             && (FIXNATP (vec[CLOSURE_STACK_DEPTH])))
+            || (CONSP (vec[CLOSURE_CODE]) /* Interpreted function.  */
+                && (CONSP (vec[CLOSURE_CONSTANTS])
+                    || NILP (vec[CLOSURE_CONSTANTS]))))))
     invalid_syntax ("Invalid byte-code object", readcharfun);
 
-  if (STRING_MULTIBYTE (vec[CLOSURE_CODE]))
-    /* BYTESTR must have been produced by Emacs 20.2 or earlier
-       because it produced a raw 8-bit string for byte-code and
-       now such a byte-code string is loaded as multibyte with
-       raw 8-bit characters converted to multibyte form.
-       Convert them back to the original unibyte form.  */
-    vec[CLOSURE_CODE] = Fstring_as_unibyte (vec[CLOSURE_CODE]);
-
-  /* Bytecode must be immovable.  */
-  pin_string (vec[CLOSURE_CODE]);
+  if (STRINGP (vec[CLOSURE_CODE]))
+    {
+      if (STRING_MULTIBYTE (vec[CLOSURE_CODE]))
+        /* BYTESTR must have been produced by Emacs 20.2 or earlier
+           because it produced a raw 8-bit string for byte-code and
+           now such a byte-code string is loaded as multibyte with
+           raw 8-bit characters converted to multibyte form.
+           Convert them back to the original unibyte form.  */
+        vec[CLOSURE_CODE] = Fstring_as_unibyte (vec[CLOSURE_CODE]);
+
+      /* Bytecode must be immovable.  */
+      pin_string (vec[CLOSURE_CODE]);
+    }
 
   XSETPVECTYPE (XVECTOR (obj), PVEC_CLOSURE);
   return obj;
diff --git a/src/profiler.c b/src/profiler.c
index ac23a97b672..6e1dc46abd3 100644
--- a/src/profiler.c
+++ b/src/profiler.c
@@ -170,9 +170,7 @@ trace_hash (Lisp_Object *trace, int depth)
     {
       Lisp_Object f = trace[i];
       EMACS_UINT hash1
-        = (CLOSUREP (f) ? XHASH (AREF (f, CLOSURE_CODE))
-           : (CONSP (f) && CONSP (XCDR (f)) && BASE_EQ (Qclosure, XCAR (f)))
-           ? XHASH (XCDR (XCDR (f))) : XHASH (f));
+        = (CLOSUREP (f) ? XHASH (AREF (f, CLOSURE_CODE)) : XHASH (f));
       hash = sxhash_combine (hash, hash1);
     }
   return hash;
@@ -677,10 +675,6 @@ the same lambda expression, or are really unrelated function.  */)
     res = true;
   else if (CLOSUREP (f1) && CLOSUREP (f2))
     res = EQ (AREF (f1, CLOSURE_CODE), AREF (f2, CLOSURE_CODE));
-  else if (CONSP (f1) && CONSP (f2) && CONSP (XCDR (f1)) && CONSP (XCDR (f2))
-           && EQ (Qclosure, XCAR (f1))
-           && EQ (Qclosure, XCAR (f2)))
-    res = EQ (XCDR (XCDR (f1)), XCDR (XCDR (f2)));
   else
     res = false;
   return res ? Qt : Qnil;
diff --git a/test/lisp/emacs-lisp/macroexp-resources/vk.el b/test/lisp/emacs-lisp/macroexp-resources/vk.el
index 5358bcaeb5c..c59a6b9f8f1 100644
--- a/test/lisp/emacs-lisp/macroexp-resources/vk.el
+++ b/test/lisp/emacs-lisp/macroexp-resources/vk.el
@@ -78,29 +78,31 @@
 
 (defconst vk-val3 (eval-when-compile (vk-f3 0)))
 
-(defconst vk-f4 '(lambda (x)
-                   (defvar vk-v4)
-                   (let ((vk-v4 31)
-                         (y 32))
-                     (ignore vk-v4 x y)
-                     (list
-                      (vk-variable-kind vk-a)   ; dyn
-                      (vk-variable-kind vk-b)   ; dyn
-                      (vk-variable-kind vk-v4)  ; dyn
-                      (vk-variable-kind x)      ; dyn
-                      (vk-variable-kind y)))))  ; dyn
-
-(defconst vk-f5 '(closure (t) (x)
-                   (defvar vk-v5)
-                   (let ((vk-v5 41)
-                         (y 42))
-                     (ignore vk-v5 x y)
-                     (list
-                      (vk-variable-kind vk-a)   ; dyn
-                      (vk-variable-kind vk-b)   ; dyn
-                      (vk-variable-kind vk-v5)  ; dyn
-                      (vk-variable-kind x)      ; lex
-                      (vk-variable-kind y)))))  ; lex
+(defconst vk-f4 (eval '(lambda (x)
+                         (defvar vk-v4)
+                         (let ((vk-v4 31)
+                               (y 32))
+                           (ignore vk-v4 x y)
+                           (list
+                            (vk-variable-kind vk-a) ; dyn
+                            (vk-variable-kind vk-b) ; dyn
+                            (vk-variable-kind vk-v4) ; dyn
+                            (vk-variable-kind x)     ; dyn
+                            (vk-variable-kind y))))  ; dyn
+                      nil))
+
+(defconst vk-f5 (eval '(lambda (x)
+                         (defvar vk-v5)
+                         (let ((vk-v5 41)
+                               (y 42))
+                           (ignore vk-v5 x y)
+                           (list
+                            (vk-variable-kind vk-a) ; dyn
+                            (vk-variable-kind vk-b) ; dyn
+                            (vk-variable-kind vk-v5) ; dyn
+                            (vk-variable-kind x)     ; lex
+                            (vk-variable-kind y))))  ; lex
+                      t))
 
 (defun vk-f6 ()
   (eval '(progn
diff --git a/test/lisp/erc/resources/erc-d/erc-d-tests.el b/test/lisp/erc/resources/erc-d/erc-d-tests.el
index 78f87399afb..dda1b1ced84 100644
--- a/test/lisp/erc/resources/erc-d/erc-d-tests.el
+++ b/test/lisp/erc/resources/erc-d/erc-d-tests.el
@@ -367,8 +367,9 @@
       (should (equal (funcall it) "foo3foo")))
 
     (ert-info ("Exits clean")
-      (when (listp (alist-get 'f (erc-d-dialog-vars dialog))) ; may be compiled
-        (should (eq 'closure (car (alist-get 'f (erc-d-dialog-vars dialog))))))
+      (when (interpreted-function-p
+             (alist-get 'f (erc-d-dialog-vars dialog))) ; may be compiled
+        (should (aref (alist-get 'f (erc-d-dialog-vars dialog)) 2)))
       (should-not (funcall it))
       (should (equal (erc-d-dialog-vars dialog)
                      `((:a . 1)
diff --git a/test/lisp/help-fns-tests.el b/test/lisp/help-fns-tests.el
index 1beeb77640c..82350a4bc71 100644
--- a/test/lisp/help-fns-tests.el
+++ b/test/lisp/help-fns-tests.el
@@ -63,14 +63,14 @@ Return first line of the output of (describe-function-1 FUNC)."
     (should (string-match regexp result))))
 
 (ert-deftest help-fns-test-lisp-defun ()
-  (let ((regexp (if (featurep 'native-compile)
-                    "a subr-native-elisp in .+subr\\.el"
-                  "a compiled-function in .+subr\\.el"))
+  (let ((regexp "a \\([^ ]+\\) in .+subr\\.el")
         (result (help-fns-tests--describe-function 'last)))
-    (should (string-match regexp result))))
+    (should (string-match regexp result))
+    (should (member (match-string 1 result)
+                    '("subr-native-elisp" "byte-code-function")))))
 
 (ert-deftest help-fns-test-lisp-defsubst ()
-  (let ((regexp "a compiled-function in .+subr\\.el")
+  (let ((regexp "a byte-code-function in .+subr\\.el")
         (result (help-fns-tests--describe-function 'posn-window)))
     (should (string-match regexp result))))