Lærig

I am obliged by the suggestions of your correspondents "B.W." and "C.I.R." (No. 24. p. 387.), to which I beg leave to offer the following reply. The Dutch and Flemish (or Netherlandish, as they may be considered one language until the fifteenth century) *Le'er* and *Le'ar* are simply contractions of *Leder*, as Tenkate observes, *euphonis gratia*, by the omission of the *d*, which takes place in other similar words; and what is remarkable in *Ledig*, empty, which becomes *Le'eg*. *Le'erig* is of course *leathery*, or *tough*; but *Lederen* or *Le'ersen*, would be used for *made* of *leather*,…