An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Daube

by Friedrich Kluge

Daube, feminine, akin to the equivalent Middle High German dûge, feminine, ‘stave’; the Modern High German b compared with Middle High German g shows that the modern word cannot be a continuation of the Middle High German form. Upper German has preserved the word dauge, corresponding to Middle High German dûge; compare Dutch duig, ‘stave.’ Old Icelandic þûfa, feminine, ‘entrenchment, rampart,’ does not appear to be related. In Romance is found a word phonetically allied and equivalent in meaning — French douve, ‘stave’ (but also ‘moat’; hence this is connected with the Old Icelandic word quoted); it was most likely borrowed from Dutch or Low German. The Scandinavian þùfa and the Middle High German dûge look very much like Teutonic words whether they are allied or not. We cannot possibly derive Middle High German dûge from Greek δοχή, ‘receptacle.’ Respecting the permutation of b (f) and g, see Traube.