Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *lasiwą, *lasiwaz, *laskaz ‎(“weakness, vice; weak, false”), from Proto-Indo-European *las- ‎(“weak”). Akin to Old English lyswen ‎(“corrupt, purulent”), Old English lēas ‎(“false, lax”), Old Norse lasinn ‎(“limpy, weak”), Old Norse las in lasmeyr ‎(“wretched, frail”).