SC - Lebkuchen

[Decker, Terry D.]

Cassell's gives Lebkuchen as "gingerbread."  Since the "kuchen" part
literally means "cake," the "Leb" appears to be related to the spicing or
the "ginger."

Zelt literally means tent.  However, in dialect "Zeltchen" means lozenge or
pastille, it also literally translates to "small  Zelt," suggesting that a
Zelt is a large lozenge, like a cake or a cookie.

BTW, cookie derives from a Dutch word which appears to come into use in the
early 17th Century.  Prior to that cookies were often referred to as "cakes"
or the equivalent.

The -er suffix is what makes the word describe a maker of "Lebzelt."

None of this, provides any real information about the derivation of the word
"Leb," which was the question.  And the German references Thomas  quoted
suggest that German classicists can make better informed guess that we, but
are equally at loss for a provable derivation.

Bear

> According to "Foods of the World: Germany", the word "lebzelter"
> means "gingerbread maker".  Perhaps "lebkuchen" means "kuchen
> maker"?
> 
> Richenza
>