An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Brei

by Friedrich Kluge

Brei, masculine, ‘broth, pottage,’ from the equivalent Middle High German brî, brîe, masculine, Old High German brîo, masculine, allied to Dutch brij, Anglo-Saxon brîw, ‘pottage’; Gothic *breiwa- (Gothic *breiws is related to Old High German brîo in the same way as Gothic saiws to Old High German sêo). It is hardly possible that the word is connected with the root brū̆, discussed under brauen. Did a root brī̆, ‘to cook,’ exist? compare Old Icelandic brîme, ‘fire.’ Greek ορίσσω (root φρῖκ) has been suggested.