An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/fertig

by Friedrich Kluge

fertig, adjective, ‘ready, complete, dexterous,’ from Middle High German vęrtec, vęrtic (from vart, ‘journey’), adjective, ‘able to walk, walking, in motion, ready, fit,’ Old High German fartîg; Dutch vaardig, ‘ready.’ The adjective, like bereit and rüstig, probably meant originally ‘equipped for a military expedition.’