An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Glied

by Friedrich Kluge

Glied, n., from the equiv. MidHG. gelit(d), n. and m., OHG. gilid, n., ‘limb, joint’ (in MidHG. ‘member’ also); likewise in the same sense, mostly without ge-, MidHG., lit(d), OHG. lid, n., n.; corresponding to OSax. lith, Du. lid (and gelid), AS. lið, Goth. (liþus, ‘limb.’ The common Teut. stem liþu is ordinarily referred to an OTeut. root lī̆þ, ‘to go’ (see leiden, leiten), which is scarcely possible, because Glied cannot orig. have been confined to the feet. Besides li- must be the root and -þu-) (for Aryan -tu-) the suffix, on account of the equiv. words formed with the suffix m, OIc. li-mr, ‘limb,’ lim, ‘twig,’ AS. lim, E. limb. Also allied perhaps to Lith. lëmǔ, ‘stature, growth’ (as well as lělas, ‘tall, slender’?), Comp. Bild. —