An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Zelt

by Friedrich Kluge

Zelt, neuter, ‘tent, pavilion, awning,’ from the equivalent Middle High German zëlt (more frequently gezëlt), Old High German zëlt (usually gizëlt), neuter. A common Teutonic word; compare Anglo-Saxon gëteld, ‘tent, pavilion, cover’ (hence English tilt), Old Icelandic tjald, ‘curtain, tent.’ From Old Teutonic, French taudis, ‘hut’ (Spanish and Portuguese toldo, ‘tent’?), is derived; Old French taudir, ‘to cover,’ points to the Anglo-Saxon strong verb betëldan, ‘to cover, cover over’ (English and Dutch tent is based upon French tente; compare Italian tenda, from Latin tendere). Hence the evolution of meaning of Zelt may be easily understood from a Teutonic root teld, ‘to spread out covers.’ The following word is allied.