An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Werft

by Friedrich Kluge

Werft (1.), m., ‘woof,’ from MidHG. and OHG. warf, n. (comp. ModHG. Hüfte from MidHG. huf), ‘warp, yarn, or thread for the warp.’ Corresponding to the equiv. AS. wearp, E. warp, OIc. varp, which are usually derived from the vb. werfen. Lith. verpti, ‘to spin,’ is perhaps derived from the Ger. word.

Werft (2.), £. and n., ‘wharf,’ ModHG. only; borrowed from LG., like many nautical expressions; comp. Du. werf (scheepstimmerwerf), E. wharf, and the equiv. Swed. varf. The word cannot, on account of the consonants, be connected with werfen. The cognates signify lit. ‘work-place,’ and are related to the verbal root of werben (which see).