An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Kien

by Friedrich Kluge

Kien, masculine, ‘resinous wood,’ from Middle High German kien, neuter and masculine, Old High German chien, ‘resinous wood, pine chips, pine torch’; compare Anglo-Saxon *kên, cên, masculine, ‘torch pine.’ Gothic *kêns or *kizns (compare Miete from Gothic mizdô) is wanting; further references cannot be found. Compare also Kiefer.