An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Priester
Priester, masculine, ‘priest,’ from the equivalent Middle High German priester, Old High German priestar (prêstar), masculine; corresponding to Old Saxon prêstar, Dutch priester (Anglo-Saxon preôst, English priest, Old Icelandic prest-r). The cognates were borrowed, at a comparatively late period, from Latin and Romance presbyter (Greek πρεσβύτερος), or rather from its shortened variant *prêster, whence also French prêtre (Old French prestre), as well as Italian prete, Spanish preste (likewise Old Irish cruimther). The original sense, ‘elder,’ was a respectful term applied to the spiritual head of the community (originally used perhaps only in addressing him); compare Abt, Papst, and also Herr. The Latin word was not adopted in Old High German before the 9th century (contemporaneously with predigen).