An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Lehde

by Friedrich Kluge

Lehde, Lede, f., ‘waste land,’ simply ModHG., from earlier Du. leeghde, ModDu. laagte, ‘low ground, valley,’ through a LG. medium. Allied to the ModDu. adj. laag, ‘low,’ to which E. low and the equiv. OIc. lágr correspond; in miners' language the adj. appears also in G.; läg, ‘sloping, awry,’ from MidHG. lœ̂ge, ‘flat, low.’ The whole class belongs to the stem of liegen.