An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Gelichter

by Friedrich Kluge

Gelichter, n., ‘likeness, cast, stamp,’ lit. ‘class of people of like manners’; in this sense glihter and its derivatives occur even in late MidHG. (MidG.); derived from MidHG. gelich, gleich (see the latter). Yet the UpG. form glifter points to a blending with another word, Goth. *gahliftrja, ‘thief's accomplice’ (akin to Goth. hlifan, ‘to steal,’ primit. allied to Gr. κλέπτω). For HG. ft, equiv. to LG. ht, see sacht, ruchbar, Gerücht.