An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Gewand

by Friedrich Kluge

Gewand, neuter, ‘garment, dress, garb,’ from Middle High German gewant(d), neuter, ‘clothing, armour, dress stuff, material’ (with the last meaning Modern High German Gewandhaus is connected); Old High German only in the late recorded compound, badagiwant(t), ‘vestis mutatoria.’ The older word for ‘Gewand’ was Middle High German gewœte, Old High German giwâti, also Old High German and Middle High German wât. Old High German giwant, appears as ‘turning, winding,’ and upon this sense (‘enveloping’) the meaning ‘clothing’ is based; compare Latin toga, from tegere, ‘to cover.’ See winden. —