An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Weichbild

by Friedrich Kluge

Weichbild, n., ‘outskirts of a town, precincts,’ from MidHG. wîchbilde, n., ‘outskirts of a town, jurisdiction over a town and its precincts.’ The origin of this compound, first occurring in the 13th cent., is disputed. The assumption that it signifies lit. ‘image of a saint’ (comp. weihen for MidHG. wîch, ‘holy’), does not suffice to explain the actual meaning. The suggested lit. meaning, ‘local image,’ is equally unsatisfactory, although MidHG. wîch- in MidHG. wîchgrâve, ‘municipal judge,’ and wîchvride, ‘municipal peace,’ certainly appears in the compound; comp. OSax. wîc, ‘town, place,’ Du. wijk, ‘quarter of a town,’ OHG. wîh(hh), ‘town, city.’ The signification of the second component cannot be explained from ModHG. Bild (MidHG. bilede). There existed beside OHG. and MidHG. bil-lîch, ‘suitable, right, an OHG. *bilida, ‘law, jurisdiction,’ which appears only in MidHG. unbilde (see Unbill); hence MidHG. wîchbilde meant first of all ‘municipal jurisdiction,’ and then ‘municipal territory’ (comp. Sprengel).