An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Wein

by Friedrich Kluge

Wein, m., ‘wine,’ from the equiv. MidHG. and OHG. wîn, m.; corresponding to OSax. wîn, m. and n., Du. wijn, m., AS. wîn, E. wine, and the equiv. Goth. wein, n. There is no phonological evidence to show that the word was borrowed. The assumption that it was adopted from Lat. vînum (equiv. to Goth. wein, n.), or rather from Low Lat. vînus, m. (equiv. to OHG. wîn, m.), is probable from the accounts of ancient writers. The period of adoption was perhaps the first cent. B.C., hence the early diffusion among the OTeut. dialects. An earlier connection of the Teut. with the Lat. word is improbable (Lat. v equiv. to Teut. w in old loanwords; comp. Pfau, Weiher, Weiler, with Vers and Brief). With regard to the Southern culture of the vine, comp. the following words borrowed from Lat. — Kelter (also Presse), Kelch, Lauer, Spund, Most, Torkel, Trichter, and Winzer. Note, too, Swiss wümmen, OHG. windemôn (older *wintimmôd), equiv. to Lat. vindêmiare; Swiss Wümmet, from OHG. windemôd, *wintimmôd, equiv. to Lat. vindêmiae (whence also the equiv. OIr. fínime, ‘vintage,’ also fín, ‘wine’).