Etymology

The usual representative of the Gmc root *lanð- in OE is the neut. lenden, nom. pl. lendenu, < the variant *lanðīn (cp. OFris lendenum (dat. pl.), OS, OLF lendin, OHG lentin); and the evidence for an OE lend- without -en- (< PGmc *lanðjō, cp. OIcel lend (fem., pl. lendir) and OHG lentī, MHG lende) is scant (see further Dance). Derivation from ON or, more likely, input in promoting an n-less English variant is therefore possible, but most authorities are content to regard ME lyndes as native.

PGmc Ancestor

*lanðjō

Proposed ON Etymon (OIcel representative)

lend 'loin'
(ONP lend (sb.))

Other Scandinavian Reflexes

Far lend, Icel lend, Norw lend, Dan lænd, Sw länd

OE Cognate

lendenu 'loins'

Phonological and morphological markers

Summary category

CCC1a

Attestation

Common and widespread in ME (the first form without -n- cited in MED is from Orrm)

Occurrences in the Gersum Corpus

Gaw 139

Bibliography

MED lēnd(e (n.) , OED lend (n.1) , HTOED , Dance lyndes, de Vries lend, Mag. lend, Orel *lanðīn ~ *landðjō, Kroonen *landjō-, AEW lenden