gq: Poles of the 17th century assumed that "szlachta" came from the German "schlachten" ("to slaughter" or "to butcher"); also suggestive is the German "Schlacht" ("battle"). Early Polish historians thought the term may have derived from the name of the legendary proto-Polish chief, Lech, mentioned in Polish and Czech writings.
Question: What did the poles of the 17th century think the term szlachta came from? Question: What does schlachtan mean in german? Question: What German word is also suggestive deriving from  szlachta? Question: What does schlacht mean? Question: The polish believed szlachta derived from the name of who?