An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Raub

by Friedrich Kluge

Raub, masculine, ‘robbery, spoil,’ from the equivalent Middle High German roup (genitive roubes), masculine, Old High German roub, masculine; compare Old Saxon rôf in nôdrôf. ‘violent wresting,’ Dutch roof, masculine, ‘robbery,’ Anglo-Saxon reáf, neuter, ‘robbery, booty,’ allied to Anglo-Saxon reófan, ‘to break, rend,’ Old Icelandic rjúfa, strong verb, ‘to break, rend’ (especially used of a breach of contract); these are further connected with Latin rumpo (Aryan root rup); compare the Sanscrit root lup, ‘to shatter.’ Hence Raub seems to mean literally ‘breach of contract.’? —