An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Wage

by Friedrich Kluge

Wage, feminine, ‘balance,’ from Middle High German wâdge, Old High German wâga, feminine, ‘balance, weighing-machine’ (allied to wägen). Corresponding to Old Saxon wâga, Dutch waag, Anglo-Saxon wœ̂g (whence English to weigh), Old Icelandic vâg, feminine, ‘balance.’ Allied to the Teutonic root weg in wiegen.