An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/taub

by Friedrich Kluge

taub, adjective, ‘deaf, torpid,’ from Middle High German and Old High German toup (b), ‘deaf, insensible, stupid, foolish, mad’; corresponding to Gothic daufs (b), ‘callous,’ Anglo-Saxon deáf, English deaf, and the equivalent Dutch doof. Since the meanings of the Old High German and Middle High German adjective border on those of Old High German and Middle High German tump (see dumm), the two words are certainly connected. The assumed relation (see dumm) to the Aryan root dhubh, ‘to be blunt, obtuse, deafened,’ preserved in Greek τυφλός, ‘blind,’ leads further to toben and its cognates. Modern High German betäuben, ‘to deafen, stun,’ from Middle High German töuben, Middle High German and Old High German touben, weak verb, ‘to deprive of sensation or strength, to annihilate,’ supports the assumed primary meaning.