An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Fleiß

by Friedrich Kluge

Fleiß, masculine, ‘industry, application, diligence,’ from Middle High German vlîȥ, Old High German flîȥ, masculine ‘diligence, zeal, care,’ Old High German also ‘contest,’ from Old High German flîȥȥan, Middle High German vlîȥen, ‘to be zealous, apply oneself, Modern High German befleißen, participle be-, geflissen. Compare Dutch vlijt, ‘diligence,’ Anglo-Saxon flitan, ‘to emulate, quarrel, contend,’ English to flite. On the evolution of meaning see Krieg. ‘To emulate’ seems to have been the literal meaning of the merely West Teutonic root flī̆t (Gothic fl- or þl-? — see fliehen). No further references have been discovered.