Where does “lecken” come from?

lecken (German) comes from Middle High German lecken, from Old High German lecchōn, from Proto-West Germanic likkōn, from Proto-Germanic lekaną, from Proto-Indo-European leg- — to leak.

lecken (German): to lick; to leak; to seep

Definitions

  1. to lick; to leak; to seep

Ancestry of “lecken”, step by step

lecken traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Middle High German lecken

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle High Germanleckenlick; to hop
2Old High Germanlecchōn—
3Proto-West Germaniclikkōnto lick
4Proto-GermaniclekanąTo leak; seep; drip
5Proto-Indo-Europeanleg-to leak

via Middle Low German lecken

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Low Germanleckento leak
2Old Saxonlekkian—
3Proto-GermaniclakjanąTo cause to wet; moisten
4Proto-Indo-European(s)leh₂g-to be slack; be limp; droop; sag

Words derived from “lecken”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European leg- →Every word from Proto-Germanic lekaną →Every word from Proto-West Germanic likkōn →