An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Scheuer

by Friedrich Kluge

Scheuer, feminine (in Bavarian and East Suabian Stadel), ‘barn, shed,’ from the equivalent Middle High German schiure, Old High German sciura, feminine; a derivative of Old High German scûr, Middle High German schûr, ‘penthouse, protection,’ Modern High German (dialectic) Schauer. Compare Old Icelandic skjól, neuter, ‘place of refuge, shelter,’ skaunn, masculine, ‘shield.’ The Aryan root, skū̆, ‘to cover, protect’ (compare Schaum), contained in these words, is widely diffused; compare Latin scûtum, ‘shield,’ Greek σκῦ-λον, ‘armour,’ Latin ob-scûr-rus, ‘dark’ (covered), and the Sanscrit root sku ‘to cover.’ See Scheune and Schote.