An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Blei

by Friedrich Kluge

Blei, n. ‘lead,’ from the equiv. MidHG. blî (Gen. blîwes), OHG. blîo (for *blîw), ‘lead’; it corresponds to OIc. blý; Goth. *bleiwa- is wanting. The word cannot be traced farther back; it is not found in Eng., the term used being lead (Du. loot; comp. Let).