'Fleisch' originates from Old High German, specifically the word 'fleisc', where the Proto-Germanic root '*flaiską' meant 'flesh, meat'.

'Fleisch' changed from Old High German 'fleisc' and Middle High German forms (such as 'vlīs'/'vlîsch') and eventually became the modern German word 'Fleisch'.

Initially, it meant 'flesh' or 'meat' in a general biological and alimentary sense, and over time it has largely retained that meaning in modern German as 'meat' or 'flesh'.