An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Estrich

by Friedrich Kluge

Estrich, masculine, ‘floor, plaster-floor, pavement,’ from the equivalent Middle High German ęstrĭch, ęsterĭch, Old High German estirĭh, astrĭ(hh), masculine; compare Middle Low German astrak, esterck, Dutch estrik (these two forms are not recorded). In Middle Germany the word, which was unknown to Luther, is not found. Perhaps it is really native to the valleys of the Rhine and Danube, being introduced by Roman colonists. Compare early Middle Latin astricus, astracus, ‘paving,’ Milanese astregh, Sicilian astracu, Italian lastrico; Old French astre, French âtre, ‘hearth,’ literally ‘pavement.’