An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Lawine

by Friedrich Kluge

Lawine, f., ‘avalanche,’ ModHG. simply; from Swiss, in which Lauwin, pronounced with a G. accent, was current at an earlier period. The word passed in the 18th cent. into the written language, orig. with the variants Lauwine, Lauine, Läue, Loewin. Although we might regard the word as a derivative of Lat. labina on account of Föhn, which is undoubtedly of Lat. origin, yet it probably comes from a genuine Teut. source; for the medial Lat. b would be represented only by b or f (v) in G. (MidHG. *lęvene). Moreover, the numerous dial. variants point to a G. root, and, indeed, to kinship with lau; thus with Bav. läuen, läunen, ‘to be softened by a mild temperature, thaw,’ is connected Bav. läuen, läun, ‘thaw, mass of half-melted snow, avalanche,’ and Swiss läue, láui (plur. láuine), ‘avalanche,’ with läu, ‘warm enough to thaw.’ Even in OHG. an allied word lęwina, ‘cascade,’ occurs.