An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Leite

by Friedrich Kluge

Leite, feminine, from the equivalent Middle High German lîte, feminine, ‘mountain, slope, declivity,’ Old High German lîta, from an earlier *hlîta, feminine (Gothic *hleida, feminine). The Teutonic root hlî is discussed more fully under lehnen, where also the allied terms signifying ‘hill’ may be compared.