An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Palast

by Friedrich Kluge

Palast, masculine, ‘palace,’ from Middle High German palast (compare Axt, Obst, Papst), more usual palas, neuter and masculine (with a varying accent), ‘large building with one main room, used for the reception of guests, for festivities, and especially for meals,’ and then ‘palace.’ It was adopted in late Old High German (the end of the 11th century) from French palais, Middle Latin palatium. See Pfalz.