An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Glimpf

by Friedrich Kluge

Glimpf, masculine, ‘moderation, lenity,’ from Middle High German glimpf, gelimpf, masculine, ‘consistent, courteous demeanour generally,’ Old High German gilimpf, ‘fitness’; to these are allied Old High German gilimpflîh, Middle High German gelimpflich, ‘consistent,’ whence the Modern High German adverb glimpflich; akin to Old High German gilimpfan, Middle High German gelimpfen, ‘to be suitable’ (in Middle High German also ‘to make suitable’); compare Anglo-Saxon gelimpan, ‘to occur.’ The West Teutonic root limp in an appropriate sense has not been found in the non-Teutonic languages.