leah

See also: Leah

Old English

Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *lauhaz, from Proto-Indo-European *lówkos. The use of the word meaning "meadow" is a later development of the word, possibly aided by confusion between lēas (plural of the original meaning of lēah) with lǣs (modern lease, leasow).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /læ͜ɑːx/

Noun

lēah m or f

1. woodland
2. a woodland glade
3. a clearing (especially one used for farming)
4. a meadow

Descendants

• Middle English: legh, lege, lei (from the Anglian variant)
  • English: leigh, lea
  • Scots: le, ley, lei

References

• Mills, David (1976) “Directory of Place Names”, in The Place Names of Lancashire, London: Batsford Books, →ISBN