An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Bad

by Friedrich Kluge

Bad, n., ‘bath,’ from the equiv. MidHG. bat(d), OHG. bad, n.; comp. Du. bad, AS. bœþ, E. bath, OIc. bað, ‘bath.’ An important word in relation to the history of OTeut. civilisation; even the Roman writers testify that bathing (comp. further laben) was a daily necessity to the Teutons. As a verb, a denominative was already formed in the OTeut. dialects, MidHG. and ModHG. baden, from OHG. badôn, Du. baden, AS. baþian, E. to bathe; Goth. *baþôn is not recorded. The dental of the cognates is derivative, hence ba (Aryan bhâ) is the root syllable, (comp. bähen, in that case allied to it), to which OSlov. banja, ‘bath,’ banjati, ‘to wash, bathe,’ belongs. —