An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Moor

by Friedrich Kluge

Moor, masculine and neuter, ‘moor,’ Modern High German only, from Low German môr; compare Dutch moer, Old Saxon môr, neuter, Anglo-Saxon môr, neuter, ‘moor, swamp,’ English moor; corresponding to Old High German and Middle High German muor, neuter, ‘swamp,’ seldom ‘sea’; scarcely akin to Old Icelandic mó-r (genitive mó-s), masculine, ‘moor, dry heath’ Old High German muor, as well as Anglo-Saxon môr (Gothic *môra- is wanting), is rather relate by gradation to Meer, Old High German męri, Anglo-Saxon męre, Gothic marei,. or, if r is derived by rhotacism from s, the cognates are connected with Old High German and Middle High German mos, ‘swamp’; this, however, after the remarks made under Moos, is hardly probable.