An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Geschmeide

by Friedrich Kluge

Geschmeide, neuter, ‘ornaments, trinkets, jewels,’ from Middle High German gesmîde, neuter, ‘metal, metal utensils or weapons, ornaments,’ Old High German gismîdi, neuter, ‘metal,’ and the variant smîda, feminine; from the root smī̆, widely diffused in Teutonic, ‘to work in metal,’ with which Old High German smeidar, ‘artificer in metals,’ and the cognates discussed under Schmied, are connected. So too geschmeidig, ‘pliant, flexible, tractable, smooth,’ from Middle High German gesmîdec, ‘easy to work, plastic.’