An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Waise

by Friedrich Kluge

Waise, feminine (masculine), ‘orphan,’ from Middle High German weise, Old High German weiso (*weisso?), masculine, ‘parentless child,’ also ‘fatherless or motherless child’ (the masculine seems to be used in Middle High German for the feminine also); corresponding to Dutch wees, Old Frisian wêsa, ‘orphan.’ The base (Teutonic waisjôn?) is probably derived from an Aryan root meaning ‘to rob’; compare Sanscrit vidh, ‘to become empty’ (see Witwe). In Gothic a diminutive of Witwe (see Dirne and Eichhorn), widuwaírna, masculine, signifies ‘orphan.’