An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Laich

by Friedrich Kluge

Laich, m., and n., ‘spawn,’ doubtlessly a prim. word, though first recorded in late MidHG.; corresponding to MidLG. lêk, Swed. lek, Dan. leeg. The Goth. form is perhaps *laik, and thus the connection of Laich with Teut.-Goth. laikan, ‘to leap,’ is conceivable. Dialectically Laich signifies ‘lusus venereus’ (comp. Leich).