An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Eiland

by Friedrich Kluge

Eiland, n., ‘isle,’ from MidHG. eilant, einlant(d), n., ‘land lying by itself, island’ (comp. MidHG. eilif, from OHG. einlif, see elf). Ein here has the meaning ‘solitary, alone,’ as in Einsiedler, Einöde. E. land, and Du. eiland, are not allied; they belong to Au; see the latter.