Leader
wiktionary
From Middle English leder, ledere, from Old English lǣdere(“leader”), equivalent to lead + -er. Cognate with Scots ledar, leidar(“leader”), West Frisian lieder(“leader”), Dutch leider(“leader”), German Leiter(“leader, conductor, manager”), Danish leder(“leader, manager”), Swedish ledare(“leader, conductor, director”), Icelandic leiðari(“leader, conductor”).
etymonline
leader (n.)
Old English lædere "one who leads, one first or most prominent," agent noun from lædan "to guide, conduct" (see lead (v.)). Cognate with Old Frisian ledera, Dutch leider, Old High German leitari, German Leiter. As a title for the head of an authoritarian state, from 1918 (translating Führer, Duce, caudillo, etc.). Meaning "writing or statement meant to begin a discussion or debate" is late 13c.; in modern use often short for leading article (1807) "opinion piece in a British newspaper" (leader in this sense attested from 1837). The golf course leader board so called from 1970.
