Where does “лях” come from?
лях (Russian) comes from Old East Slavic лѧхъ, from Proto-Slavic lęxъ, from Proto-Slavic lęděninъ, from Proto-Slavic lędo, from Proto-Indo-European lendʰ- — land, heath; loins.
лях (Russian): Pole, Polish man, Polack
Ancestry of “лях”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Old East Slavic | лѧхъ | — |
| 2 | Proto-Slavic | lęxъ | — |
| 3 | Proto-Slavic | lęděninъ | dweller of wasteland / wold, virgin soil |
| 4 | Proto-Slavic | lędo | — |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | lendʰ- | land, heath; loins |