An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Darre

by Friedrich Kluge

Darre, feminine, ‘kiln for drying fruit, malt, &c.,’ from the equivalent Middle High German darre, Old High German darra, feminine; akin to Middle Low German darre, Swedish (dialectic) tarre: like dörren, dürr, from an Old Teutonic root þers, pre-Teutonic ters, upon which are based Modern High German Durst, dürsten, with a specialised meaning. The root ters appears in Greek τέρσομαι, ‘to become dry,’ τερσαίνω, ‘to dry’; in relation to Modern High German Darre the equivalent ταρσός and ταρσία, ‘hurdle for drying fruit,’ deserve special notice. The words connected with the root ters are cited under Durst, since they, like Durst, have been similarly restricted in meaning, Latin torreo, for *torseo, corresponds in form and idea to Modern High German dörren; compare further Latin torris, ‘firebrand,’ torridus, ‘parched.’ From Teutonic þarrian, French tarir, ‘to dry up,’ is derived. See dörren, dürr, Durst.