Middle English word lek comes from Proto-Indo-European *leiĝ-, Proto-Indo-European *līg-, Proto-Indo-European *leg-, Proto-Indo-European *lēg(')-, Proto-Indo-European *lēgios, Proto-Indo-European *leug, and later Proto-Germanic *laukaz (Leek.)
| Dictionary entry | Language | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| *leiĝ- | Proto-Indo-European (ine-pro) | |
| *līg- | Proto-Indo-European (ine-pro) | |
| *leg- | Proto-Indo-European (ine-pro) | |
| *lēg(')- | Proto-Indo-European (ine-pro) | |
| *lēgios | Proto-Indo-European (ine-pro) | |
| *leug | Proto-Indo-European (ine-pro) | |
| *lēkijō | Proto-Germanic (gem-pro) | |
| *laukaz | Proto-Germanic (gem-pro) | Leek. |
| *līką | Proto-Germanic (gem-pro) | Body. Corpse, dead body. |
| *lǣċe | Old English (ang) | |
| *lēkijaz | Proto-Germanic (gem-pro) | Doctor, physician. |
| lēac | Old English (ang) | |
| lík | Old Norse (non) | |
| læce | Old English (ang) | Physician, doctor. |
| lǣċe | Old English (ang) | |
| lyche | Middle English (enm) | Like. |