An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Leiche

by Friedrich Kluge

Leiche, f., ‘corpse,’ from MidHG. lîch, lîche, f., ‘body, substance,’ also ‘dead body, corpse’; in ModHG. the specialised meaning, which in the earlier Teut. dials. was subordinate to the more general sense ‘body’ as substance, has now become the prevalent one. OHG. lîh (hh), f. and n., ‘body, flesh,’ AS. lîc, n., ‘body, substance, corpse’ (for E. like comp. gleich); Goth. leik, n., ‘flesh, body, corpse.’ In a possessive compound lîk assumed even in the OTeut. period the definite meaning ‘body,’ but was modified afterwards in numerous dials. to a suffix equiv. to HG. -lich (which see). The signification ‘body’ has been retained in ModHG. Leihdorn, ‘corn,’ lit. ‘thorn in the body’ (Ic. líkþorn). —