Where does “lea” come from?
Lea comes from Middle English ley, from Latin leuga, from Proto-Germanic hlēwaz, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European roots ḱal(w)e- and lewk- meaning to shine or be bright.
lea (English): An open field, meadow; Any of several measures of...
Definitions
- An open field, meadow; Any of several measures of...
Ancestry of “lea”, step by step
lea traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Middle English legh
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | legh | — |
| 2 | Old English | lēah | meadow; clearing with a pigsty; woodland,... |
| 3 | Proto-West Germanic | lauh | clearing; meadow |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | lauhaz | clearing; meadow |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | lówkos | clearing; open space, clearing; field, meadow |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | lewḱ- | lynx |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | lewk- | bright; to shine; to see |