An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Lindwurm
Lindwurm, m., ‘winged serpent or dragon,’ borrowed, with the revival of MidHG. literature in the last century, from MidHG. lintwurm, OHG. lindwurm, m., ‘dragon’ (comp. also Wurm). The first component is identical in meaning with the second, which is only an explanation of the obscure term Lind, which was no longer understood; comp. OHG. lind, lint, ‘serpent’; OIc. linnr, ‘serpent’ (for *linþr). Windhund is a similar compound.