Etymology
The likely ON derivation of the pl. n.
lithis at
WA 3750 ('Þa leues in oure lede, oure lithis to defend') depends on how it is interpreted in context: (1) most plausible is an identification with a n. meaning 'people' < ON
lýðr 'people, population, inhabitants, subjects, congregation, etc.' (so
MED, TPD;
OED does not cite this example but observes that others occur only in alliterative phrases, e.g.
lond and lith), taking
lede, derived from the native cognate, in its attested sense (incl. elsewhere in
WA) 'nation'. PGmc
*leuđiz has reflexes incl. Burg. *
leuds 'man', OE
lēod 'man' (note also
lēod (fem.) 'people, nation'), OFris
liude,
liode 'people', OS
liud,
liudi and OHG
liut. Thus the fricative, only found in NGmc, would be an indication of loan. (2) Skeat WA suggests instead identification with ME
lith, continuing OE
lið 'joint', which is a good fit formally, but makes for a much less likely reading of the phrase with
lede.
PGmc Ancestor
(1) *leuđiz; (2) *liþuz
Proposed ON Etymon (OIcel representative)
(1) lýðr 'people, population, inhabitants, subjects, congregation, etc.'
(ONP (1) lýðr (sb.))
Other Scandinavian Reflexes
Far -lýður, Icel lýður, Norw lyd, OSw lyþir
OE Cognate
(1) lēod (fem.) 'people, nation'
Phonological and morphological markers
[ON fricative /ð/ < PGmc */ð/]
(may not be applicable)
Summary category
D2