An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Scherbe

by Friedrich Kluge

Scherbe, f., ‘fragment, sherd, flowerpot,’ from MidHG. schërbe, schirbe, OHG. scirbi, f. and n., ‘sherd, fragment, earthenware pot’; comp. Du. scherf, f., ‘sherd’; a derivative of pre-Teut. skerpo-; comp. OSlov. črěpŭ, ‘sherd,’ Lett. schkirpta, ‘notch,’ schkérpele, ‘splinter of wood.’ Akin to Scherflein?.