An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Kebse

by Friedrich Kluge

Kebse, feminine, ‘concubine,’ from the equivalent Middle High German kębse, kębese, Old High German chębisa, chębis; in Gothic perhaps *kabisi. Compare Anglo-Saxon čęfes, čyfes. Unfortunately the word is etymologically quite obscure. The meaning is an important one in the history of manners and customs; the Anglo-Saxon word signifies ‘concubine’ and ‘servant,’ and the corresponding masculine kefser in Old Icelandic slave; it is evident that female captives were made slaves and concubines (compare Anglo-Saxon wealh, ‘Kelt. slave,’ wylen, ‘female slave, servant,’ under Welsch). The idea of ‘concubine,’ in spite of Tacitus’ highly-coloured picture of the Old Teutonic family life, is not foreign to Old Teutonic antiquity; but the important fact is, and this is confirmed by his general statements, that concubines were chosen from the prisoners, or rather the slaves; in antiquity the slaves were regarded as chattels; compare Latin mancipium, Greek ἀνδράποδον; Old Icelandic man, ‘slave,’ is neuter, and sometimes signifies ‘female slave, concubine.’