An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Weg

by Friedrich Kluge

Weg, masculine, ‘way, road,’ from the equivalent Middle High German and Old High German wëc (genitive wëges), masculine; corresponding to Old Saxon, Dutch, and Anglo-Saxon weg, English way, and the equivalent Gothic wigs. A common Teutonic derivative of the Teutonic root weg, ‘to march, drive, ride’; Latin via, ‘way,’ is connected with the corresponding Latin vehere; compare Wagen and wegen. Allied to weg, adverb, ‘away, gone,’ from Middle High German enwëc for in wëc, literally ‘on the way’; corresponding to Dutch weg, Anglo-Saxon onwëg, English away. —