An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Laich

by Friedrich Kluge

Laich, masculine, and neuter, ‘spawn,’ doubtlessly a primary word, though first recorded in late Middle High German; corresponding to Middle Low German lêk, Swedish lek, Danish leeg. The Gothic form is perhaps *laik, and thus the connection of Laich with Teutonic-Gothic laikan, ‘to leap,’ is conceivable. Dialectically Laich signifies ‘lusus venereus’ (compare Leich).