An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Raum

by Friedrich Kluge

Raum, masculine, from the equivalent Middle High German and Old High German rûm (Middle High German rûn), masculine, ‘room, space’; corresponding to Old Saxon, masculine, rûm, masculine, Dutch reim, Anglo-Saxon rûm, masculine, English room, Gothic rûm, neuter, Old Icelandic rûm, neuter, ‘room, open space, bed, seat.’ The common Teutonic substantive originated in the adjective rûma-, ‘spacious’; compare Gothic rûms, Middle High German rûm and gerûm, Modern High German geraum, Dutch ruim, Anglo-Saxon rûm, ‘spacious.’ The root is usually considered to be rû, and the class connected with Latin rû-s (genitive rû-ris), ‘country,’ and Zend ravaṅh, ‘space, distance.’