An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Lehm

by Friedrich Kluge

Lehm, m., ‘loam, clay,’ with a LG. and MidG. form (ê for HG. ei); the strictly HG. form Leimen has a restricted sphere. Comp. MidHG. leim, leime, m., ‘loam,’ from OHG. leimo, m. It corresponds to AS. lâm, E. loam (Goth. *laima). The root lai appears with a derivative s in OIc. leir, n., from *laiz, which may have been contracted from laj-is, like Goth. ais, ‘brass,’ from ájis, Sans. áyas. Allied to Lat. lîmus, m., ‘slime, dirt.’ The form of the gradation between Teut. laima and Lat. lîmus is ai to î. Comp. Leim.