An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Drillich

by Friedrich Kluge

Drillich, masculine, ‘ticking,’ from Middle High German drilich, drilch, masculine, ‘a stuff woven with three threads’; an adjective signifying ‘threefold’ formed into a substantive; see Zwillich. Dri- is the older form for drei in compounds (see dritte, Zwil-, and Drilling); Old High German drĭfalt, ‘threefold.’ Old High German drilîch, ‘threefold, consisting of three threads,’ is the convenient German rendering of the Latin trĭlîx (trîlîcem), ‘triple-twilled, from lîcium, ‘thread.’ Similar formations may be seen in Zwillich and Sammet.