An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Bifang
Bifang, masculine, ‘enclosure, ridge,’ from Middle High German bívanc, masculine, ‘circuit, ridge between furrows,’ Old High German bífang, ‘circuit,’ from bifãhan, ‘comprise, encircle.’ With respect to the accented verbal prefix in the substantive compound, compare bei, where ‘around’ is also quoted as one of the Old Teutonic meanings of bi. Bifang (in opposition to Beispiel, bîspel) retains, like bieder, the old short verbal prefix; compare bieder, Bild, Beunde.