An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Laute

by Friedrich Kluge

Laute, feminine, ‘lute,’ from the equivalent late Middle High German lûte, feminine, which is derived from French luth; compare Old French leút, Italian liúto, the origin of which from Arabic al'ûd, ‘musical instrument,’ is accepted; hence the connection between Laute and Laut or Lied must be rejected.