Traditionally derived from Proto-Indo-European *ley- (“to flow”), whence perhaps Lithuania. De Vaan is unconvinced, and prefers a derivation from Proto-Indo-European *leyt-os- (“going”) (with sense development "going away" > "end, side" > "seashore, coast"), from *leyt- (“to go, depart”), whence Tocharian B litā- (“to pass on”), Avestan 𐬌𐬭𐬌𐬚𐬌𐬌𐬈𐬌𐬙𐬌 (ⁱriθiieⁱti, “to die, pass away”), Gothic 𐌲𐌰𐌻𐌴𐌹𐌸𐌰𐌽 (galeiþan, “to depart, go forth”).