An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Lohe

by Friedrich Kluge

Lohe (1.), feminine, ‘blaze,’ from Middle High German lohe, masculine (Middle German also feminine), ‘flame, lurid ray,’ Old High German *loho (Gothic *laúha); the term used in Old High German was loug, Middle High German louc (Anglo-Saxon lêg, lîg). These, like Old Icelandic loge, masculine, ‘flame,’ are derived from the Teutonic root luh, ‘to give light,’ which still exists in High German Licht, and which as Aryan luk appears in Latin lucere, lux, Old Slovenian luča, ‘ray,’ and the Sanscrit ruc, ‘to shine,’ rocis, ‘light.’

Lohe (2.), feminine, ‘tanning bark,’ from the equivalent Middle High German, Middle Low German, and Old High German lô (genitive lôwes), neuter; compare Dutch looi. Distinct from Lohe (1), since it presumes a Gothic *lawa-; origin obscure.