An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Gleise

by Friedrich Kluge

Gleise, n., for Geleise (like glauben, gleich, &c., from ge-l), ‘track (of a wheel) rut,’ allied to MidHG. geleis (rare), f., ‘trodden way,’ usually MidHG. leis, leise, f., ‘trace, track,’ OHG. *leisa in waganleisa, f., ‘track of a waggon’; formed from the OTeut. root lais, ‘to go,’ discussed under leisten; Lat. lîra, de-lîrare, OSlov. lěcha, ‘ridge’ (from *laisâ), Lith. lýsė, ‘garden bed,’ are also allied. Comp. ModHG. Furche and Lat. porca, ‘ridge.’