An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Hexe
Hexe, feminine, ‘witch, hag, sorceress,’ from Middle High German hęcse, feminine, Old High German hagzissa, hagazussa, hagzus (also hâzus, hâzissa), feminine, a gloss for furia, striga, eumenis, erinnys; compare Middle Dutch haghetisse, Modern Dutch heks, Anglo-Saxon hœgtesse, feminine, English (with the rejection of the apparent termination) hag. The word, which is doubtlessly a compound, has not yet been satisfactorily explained; Old High German hag, Anglo-Saxon hœg, ‘hedge, wood,’ as the first component, seems indubitable. The second part has not been elucidated; some suppose that the primary meaning of Hexe is ‘forest woman or demon’?. Compare Old High German holzmuoja, Middle High German holzmuoje, feminine, ‘forest woman, witch’ (also ‘wood-owl’).