An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Weichbild

by Friedrich Kluge

Weichbild, neuter, ‘outskirts of a town, precincts,’ from Middle High German wîchbilde, neuter, ‘outskirts of a town, jurisdiction over a town and its precincts.’ The origin of this compound, first occurring in the 13th century, is disputed. The assumption that it signifies literally ‘image of a saint’ (compare weihen for Middle High German wîch, ‘holy’), does not suffice to explain the actual meaning. The suggested literal meaning, ‘local image,’ is equally unsatisfactory, although Middle High German wîch- in Middle High German wîchgrâve, ‘municipal judge,’ and wîchvride, ‘municipal peace,’ certainly appears in the compound; compare Old Saxon wîc, ‘town, place,’ Dutch wijk, ‘quarter of a town,’ Old High German wîh(hh), ‘town, city.’ The signification of the second component cannot be explained from Modern High German Bild (Middle High German bilede). There existed beside Old High German and Middle High German bil-lîch, ‘suitable, right, an Old High German *bilida, ‘law, jurisdiction,’ which appears only in Middle High German unbilde (see Unbill); hence Middle High German wîchbilde meant first of all ‘municipal jurisdiction,’ and then ‘municipal territory’ (compare Sprengel).