An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Lei

by Friedrich Kluge

Lei, Leie, m. and f., ‘rock, stone’ (in proper names like Lorelei), from MidHG. lei, leie, f., ‘rock, stone,’ also ‘paved way, schist,’ corresponding to OSax. leia, f. ‘rock.’ Further cognates, whether in the Teut. or non-Teut. languages, are uncertain (allied perhaps to Gr. λᾶας, ‘stone’?). It has been assumed that Ital. lavagna, ‘slate,’ was borrowed from the G. cognates.