An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Götze

by Friedrich Kluge

Götze, ‘idols, false god,’ from Middle High German götze, masculine, ‘statue for ecclesiastical purposes’; literally ‘cast (image),’ (allied to gießen, Middle High German gieȥen?). Perhaps, however, Götze is a short form of Götterbild, just as Götz is pet name for Gottfried; compare Spatz and Sperling.