An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Tinte
Tinte, f., ‘ink, tint,’ from the equiv. MidHG. tinte, tinkte (for nct and nt comp. bunt and Spunt), OHG. tincta, f.; the word is evidently borrowed; it is based on the equiv. Lat. tincta (lit. ‘coloured, variegated things’), whence Ital. and Span. tinta, ‘ink.’ It is clear, therefore, that the spelling Tinte is historically more correct than Dinte; the latter is due to MidG. and LG. In OHG. atraminza (from Lat. atramentum, comp. OFr. errement) was used. The equiv. E. ink, Du. inkt, Rhen. inkes, are based on the Romance cognates, Fr. encre, OFr. enques, Ital. inchiostro (the ultimate source is Lat.-Gr. ἔγκαυστον).