An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Gewitter

by Friedrich Kluge

Gewitter, neuter, ‘thunder-storm,’ from Middle High German gewitere, Old High German giwitiri, ‘bad weather’; collective of Wetter; corresponding to Old Saxon giwidiri, Gothic *gawidri, neuter. The Modern High German meaning is wanting in Old High German and Middle High German. Old High German giwitiri may also mean ‘hail.’