Where does “lēhen” come from?
lēhen (Middle High German) comes from Old High German lēhan, from Proto-Germanic laihną, from Proto-Indo-European leykʷ- — to leave.
Ancestry of “lēhen”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Old High German | lēhan | loan, tenure |
| 2 | Proto-Germanic | laihną | that which is lent, loan; fief |
| 3 | Proto-Indo-European | leykʷ- | to leave |