An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Fleiß
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Fleiß, m., ‘industry, application, diligence,’ from MidHG. vlîȥ, OHG. flîȥ, m. ‘diligence, zeal, care,’ OHG. also ‘contest,’ from OHG. flîȥȥan, MidHG. vlîȥen, ‘to be zealous, apply oneself, ModHG. befleißen, partic. be-, geflissen. Comp. Du. vlijt, ‘diligence,’ AS. flitan, ‘to emulate, quarrel, contend,’ E. to flite. On the evolution of meaning see Krieg. ‘To emulate’ seems to have been the lit. meaning of the merely West Teut. root flī̆t (Goth. fl- or þl-? — see fliehen). No further references have been discovered.