An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/taub

by Friedrich Kluge

taub, adj., ‘deaf, torpid,’ from MidHG. and OHG. toup (b), ‘deaf, insensible, stupid, foolish, mad’; corresponding to Goth. daufs (b), ‘callous,’ AS. deáf, E. deaf, and the equiv. Du. doof. Since the meanings of the OHG. and MidHG. adj. border on those of OHG. and MidHG. tump (see dumm), the two words are certainly connected. The assumed relation (see dumm) to the Aryan root dhubh, ‘to be blunt, obtuse, deafened,’ preserved in Gr. τυφλός, ‘blind,’ leads further to toben and its cognates. ModHG. betäuben, ‘to deafen, stun,’ from MidHG. töuben, MidHG. and OHG. touben, wk. vb., ‘to deprive of sensation or strength, to annihilate,’ supports the assumed primary meaning.