An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Gelage
Gelage, neuter, ‘feast, banquet, drinking bout,’ first occurs in early Modern High German, allied to legen. Scarcely derived from the ancient Gelage (banquets); but just as Gothic gabaur is literally ‘that which is laid together,’ and then ‘picnic, feasting’ (from baíran, ‘to carry,’ see Bahre), so Gelage is literally ‘that which is laid together,’ and then ‘feasting’; compare zechen.