Where does “leech” come from?

leech (West Frisian) comes from Old Frisian lēch, from Proto-Germanic lēgaz, from Proto-Indo-European legʰ- — to lie.

leech (West Frisian): low; empty

Definitions

  1. low; empty

Ancestry of “leech”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Frisianlēch—
2Proto-Germaniclēgazlow; flat, level with the ground
3Proto-Indo-Europeanlegʰ-to lie

Words derived from “leech”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European legʰ- →Every word from Proto-Germanic lēgaz →Every word from Old Frisian lēch →