An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Pritsche

by Friedrich Kluge

Pritsche, feminine, ‘bat, racket, wooden sword of a harlequin,’ from late Middle High German *britze, feminine, which is only implied, however, by the two compounds — britzelmeister, Modern High German Pritschelmeister, ‘a harlequin carrying a wooden sword with which he directs the order of the game,’ and britzelslahen, ‘blow with the wooden sword.’ The meaning ‘wooden conch’ points to a connection between Pritsche and Brett.