An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Leich

by Friedrich Kluge

Leich, masculine, ‘lay,’ a term borrowed anew from Middle High German leich, masculine, ‘song consisting of unequal strophes,’ originally in a general sense ‘instrumental melody’ (whence Old French lai was borrowed). It corresponds to Gothic laiks, ‘dance,’ from laikan, ‘to dance,’ Anglo-Saxon lâc, neuter, ‘play, tilting,’ from lâcan, ‘to leap, dance.’ Since Modern High German Leich is only a loanword, no further remarks are necessary concerning the specifically Old Teutonic root laik and its wide ramifications.