An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Scherflein

by Friedrich Kluge

Scherflein, neuter, ‘mite’ (coin), from the Middle High German schërf, Old High German scërf, neuter, ‘mite, very small coin’; compare Middle Low German scharf, schërf, ‘one-seventeenth of a penny’; allied to Anglo-Saxon sčeorfan, ‘to tear off’?. Compare for a similar development of meaning Modern High German Deut, as well as Greek κέρμα, literally ‘part cut off,’ then ‘small coin.’ Scherbe is scarcely allied.