An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Sahne

by Friedrich Kluge

Sahne, feminine, ‘cream,’ from the equivalent late Middle High German (Middle German and Low German) sane, feminine; compare Dutch zaan. The word originally also belonged probably to Upper German, as is indicated by the derivative Senne (for Sahne the Upper German and Middle German word Rahm is now used, in Swiss also nĭdel, and in other dialects Schmant). The origin of the cognates is obscure.