An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/lichten

by Friedrich Kluge

lichten, verb, ‘to lighten, weigh (anchor),’ Modern High German only; Middle High German lüften, ‘to raise aloft, lift up, air,’ as well as English to lift, are unconnected with this word. Lichten, as a nautical term, is borrowed from Low German lichten, literally ‘to make light,’ then ‘to lift up.’