An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Leisten

by Friedrich Kluge

Leisten, Leiste, masculine, from the equivalent Middle High German leist, masculine, ‘last’; Old High German leist (neuter?), ‘forma.’ Corresponding to Anglo-Saxon lâst, lœ̂st, masculine, ‘footprint, track, forma,’ English last, Gothic laists, masculine, ‘track, goal,’ with the facts mentioned under leisten, indicate that ‘footprint’ is the originally meaning of the High German and English words; this is probably an important fact in the history of the word. It is true that Old Icelandic leistr, masculine, signifies ‘foot,’ and ‘short stocking, sock.’