An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Pedell

by Friedrich Kluge

Pedell, masculine, ‘beadle, messenger of a court or council,’ first occurs in early Modern High German; from Middle Latin bidellus, pedellus; bedelli universitatum is recorded in 1350. As the usher of a court of justice the word bedellus appears as early as the 13th century, and, like its Romance cognates (Italian bidello, French bedeau, ‘beadle’), is derived from Old High German bital, pital (Middle High German bitel), a derivative of Old High German bitten, ‘to invite, cite.’ See Büttel.