An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Panzer
Panzer, masculine, from the equivalent Middle High German panzer, panzier, masculine, ‘coat of mail,’ from Italian panciera, Middle Latin pancerea, ‘coat of mail,’ which is connected with Italian pancia, ‘belly, body’ (French panse, whence also Middle High German and Modern High German dialectic Panse, ‘belly’), and signifies literally ‘the part of the armour covering the abdomen.’