An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Land

by Friedrich Kluge

Land, n., ‘land, country,’ from the equiv. MidHG. lant (d), OHG. lant (t), n.; a common Teut. word; comp. Goth. land, ‘district, estate, native country,’ OIc., AS., E., Du., and OSax. land, ‘country, land.’ To these are prim. allied Ir. land, lann, W. llan, Corn lan (from the primit. form *landhâ), ‘open space, area, small enclosure, yard,’ Bret. lan, ‘heath,’ as well as OSlov. lędina, ‘heath, uncultivated land’ (Russ. ljada, ljadina), with which Swed. dial. linda, ‘fallow field,’ agrees in the vowel sounds. Hence Land is native to the North of Europe, while Acker has a far wider diffusion. The Rom. cognates, Ital. landa and Fr. lande, ‘heath, plain,’ are derived from Kelt. rather than from Teut.