Etymology

The first element of this compound derives from OE (ge)dwimor 'phantom, ghost, delusion, error' (cp. ME dweomer-cræft 'witchcraft, sorcery') and the second is ME layk (n.), derived from ON.

PGmc Ancestor

*laikaz

Proposed ON Etymon (OIcel representative)

leikr ‘game, play, sport’ 
(ONP leikr (1) (sb.))

Other Scandinavian Reflexes

Far leikur, Icel leikur, Norw leik, Dan leg, OSw leker, Sw lek

OE Cognate

lāc 'play, sport'

Phonological and morphological markers

ON /ei/ < PGmc */ai/

Summary category

A1*bc

Attestation

The only other citations of this compound in MED and OED come from c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9) and WA.

Occurrences in the Gersum Corpus

Cl 1561, 1578; WA 414

Bibliography

MED dweomerlāk (n.) , OED demerlayk (n.) , HTOED ; see further layk (n.).