An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Notdurft

by Friedrich Kluge

Notdurft, feminine, ‘necessaries’ (of life), from Middle High German nôt-durft, feminine, ‘necessity, need, needs of nature, want of necessaries, livelihood,’ Old High German nôtduruft, feminine (Old Saxon nôdthurft); allied to Gothic naudiþaurfts, adjective, ‘necessary.’ —