An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Knauf

by Friedrich Kluge

Knauf, masculine, ‘button, pommel,’ from Middle High German knouf, masculine, ‘pommel (of a sword), pinnacle,’ also a diminutive knoufel, knöufel, masculine, Old High German *chnouf not recorded; Gothic *knaups is also indicated by Dutch knoop, masculine, ‘button, knob.’ A Gothic graded form *knupps may likewise be inferred from the cognates discussed under Knopf, which see.