An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Giebel

by Friedrich Kluge

Giebel, masculine, ‘gable, summit,’ from the equivalent Middle High German gibel, Old High German gibil, masculine; corresponding to Dutch gevel, Old Icelandic gafl, ‘gable,’ Gothic gibla, masculine, ‘spire.’ The Old High German word significs ‘front side’ (e.g., of the ark of the covenant), as well as ‘nap’ (of velvet, &c.), so that ‘extreme end’ is probably the primary meaning. It may be assumed, however, that the word was used in a figurative sense, Middle High German gëbel, Old High German gëbal, masculine, ‘skull, head,’ Old High German gibilla, feminine, ‘skull’; primitively allied to Greek κεφαλή, ‘head’ (Aryan ghebhalâ, the type of this word and of Giebel); hence Giebel is literally ‘head.’

Giebel, Gieben, masculine, ‘crucian’; like the equivalent French gibel, of obscure origin.