An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Sims

by Friedrich Kluge

Sims, masculine and neuter, ‘cornice, shelf, mantelpiece,’ from the equivalent Middle High German simȥ, simeȥ, Old High German simiȥ (Old High German simiȥstein, ‘capitellum’); a corresponding *simito- is wanting in the other Teutonic languages; its pre-historic existence is proved by its kinship with Latin sîma, ‘ogee, moulding.’ To Middle High German simeȥ belongs the properly collective gesimeȥe, Modern High German Gesims. The derivation from French cymaise (Greek κυμάτιον) is inconceivable.