An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language, S (1891)
by Friedrich Kluge, translated by John Francis Davis
Schuld
Friedrich Kluge2509846An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language, S — Schuld1891John Francis Davis

Schuld, f., ‘debt, crime, guilt,’ from MidHG. schult (d) and schulde. OHG. sculd, sculda, f., ‘obligation, debt, culpability, sin’; comp. OSax. sculd, f., ‘debt, culpability, sin’; AS. sčyld, ‘guilt, sin.’ An old verbal abstract from the root skal, which appears also in Lith. skolà, ‘guilt,’ skìlti, ‘to get into debt,’ and skelěti, ‘to be indebted,’ as well as in Pruss. skallisnan, ‘duty’; Lat. scelus does not appear to be connected with it.