An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/legen

by Friedrich Kluge

legen, vb., ‘to lay, put,’ from the equiv. MidHG. and OHG. lęgen, lęcken, wk. vb.; prop. ‘to cause to lie,’ hence a factitive of liegen. It corresponds to OSax. lęggian, Du. leggen, AS. lęčgan, E. to lay, OIc. legja, Goth. lagjan, wk. vb., ‘to lay.’ Comp. liegen.