An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Ätte

by Friedrich Kluge

Ätte, Ätti, m., ‘father,’ dialectic, from MidHG. atte, OHG. atto, ‘father.’ The mutation of the ModHG. is diminutive, as is shown by the final i of the Swiss ätti. Allied to Goth. atta, ‘father’ (whence Attila, MidHG. Etzel, lit. ‘little, dear father’), perhaps also to OIr. aite, ‘foster-father’ (from attios), OSlov. otĭcĭ, ‘father.’