From Middle English lenen ("to lean"), from Old English hleonian, hlinian, from Proto-Germanic *hlināną ("to lean, incline"), from Proto-Indo-European *ḱley-. Cognate via Proto-Germanic with Middle Dutch leunen ("to lean"), German lehnen ("to lean"); via Proto-Indo-European with climate, cline.
From Middle English lene ("lean"), from Old English hlǣne ("lean"), (cognate with Low German leen), perhaps from hlǣnan, from Proto-Germanic *hlainijaną ("to cause to lean"). If so, then related to Old English hlinian, hleonian.
From Icelandic leyna? Akin to German leugnen ("deny"). Compare lie.
Probably from the verb to lean (see etymology 1 above), supposedly because consumption of the intoxicating beverage causes one to "lean".
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