lejd.

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

Ultimately verbal noun to lejda, leja (“to lead”), intermixed with the verb leja (“to hire”). From Old Swedish leidh, leidhe, from Old Norse leið, leiði, from Proto-Germanic *laidō (“leading”), likely effected in use by Low German (Middle Low German leide). Compare Danish leide, German Geleit. In the other lineage: Old Swedish lēgha, from Old Norse leiga (“hire, rent, pay, loan”). Doublet of led when being the verbal noun of leda (“to lead”). The fore diphthong (lejd vs led) appears sporadically in Old Germanic: compare Proto-Germanic *laidijaną (“to cause to go, lead”) → Old West Norse leiða, Old High German leiten, to Old East Norse leða, Old English lǣdan, Old Saxon lēdian; related Proto-Germanic *līþaną (“to go”) → Swedish lida, Old Norse líða, Old English līðan, Old Saxon līthan, Old High German līdan, to Gothic *𐌻𐌴𐌹𐌸𐌰𐌽 (*leiþan), and descendants German leiden, Dutch lijden, lijen, etc. Further Old East Norse leta to Old West Norse leita (“to search”).