An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Gatte

by Friedrich Kluge

Gatte, masculine, ‘spouse, consort, husband,’ from Middle High German gate (also gegate), masculine, ‘equal associate, one's equals, husband'; compare Dutch gade, ‘husband.’ The last meaning is rare in the Middle High German period, and first prevailed over the others in the last century; it is a specialisation of the idea ‘belonging to one another'; compare Old Saxon gigado, ‘one's equals,’ Anglo-Saxon gegada, ‘companion’; also Gothic gadiliggs, ‘relative,’ Anglo-Saxon gœdeling, ‘member of the same tribe,’ Old High German gatuling, ‘cousin,’ Old Saxon gaduling, ‘countryman, member of the same tribe.’ Modern High German gatten (sich gatten), verb, is from Middle High German gaten, ‘to come together, agree'; Middle High German (essentially Middle German) gater, ‘together,’ Dutch te gader, Anglo-Saxon geador and tôgœdere. English together; Anglo-Saxon gadrian, English to gather (Dutch vergaderen, ‘to assemble’); Old High German gęti-lôs, Middle High German gęte-lôs, adjective, ‘wanton, dissolute,’ literally ‘free from the restraining bond.’ The ideas of ‘belonging to one another' and of ‘suiting’ are seen in all the cognates of gut.