An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Eimer

by Friedrich Kluge

Eimer, masculine, ‘pail, bucket,’ from the Middle High German eimber, ein-ber, masculine, Old High German eimbar, einbar, masculine, neuter, ‘pail’; corresponds to Old Saxon êmbar (êmmar), Dutch emmer, Anglo-Saxon ā̆mbor, ombor, masculine, ‘pail.’ Apparently a compound of ein- (Gothic ains) and a noun formed from the root ber (Greek φερ, Latin fer), ‘to carry,’ which is discussed under Bahre, Bürde; hence ‘a vessel to be carried by one person’?, or rather ‘a vessel with a handle’?. In reality, however, the words cited are only popular corruptions, which were suggested by Zuber (Old High German zwibar) as well as by Old High German sumbirî(n); for undoubtedly Old High German ambar, Anglo-Saxon ombor, are the older forms, as is also proved by the borrowed words, Old Slovenian ąborŭ, Prussian wumbaris, ‘pail’; in that case it would be connected with Greek ἀμφορά. Note too the diminutives Old High German amprî (Middle High German ęmmer?), Anglo-Saxon ęmbren, ‘pail,’ formed from Old High German sumdbirî(n).