An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Pfeiler
Pfeiler, m., from the equiv. MidHG. pfîlœre, OHG. pfîlâri, m., ‘pillar’; borrowed prior to the OHG. period from MidLat. pîlâre, pîlarius (Lat. pîla), ‘pillar,’ whence also Du. pijlaar. Comp. Ital. piliere, Fr. pilier, E. pillar (to which E. and Fr. pile, formed from Lat. pîla, is allied).