An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/hell

by Friedrich Kluge

hell, adjective, ‘clear, bright, evident,’ from Middle High German hël (genitive hëlles), adjective, ‘loud, sonorous,’ Old High German hël in gahël, unhël, missahëll; in Middle High German the meaning ‘sonorous’ was still current, but that of ‘glittering’ is found neither in Old High German nor Middle High German. Compare Old High German hëllan, Middle High German hëllen, ‘to resound’; Middle High German hal (genitive halles), masculine, ‘sound, resonance,’ whence Modern High German hallen; further Scandinavian hjal, neuter, ‘chattering,’ hjala, ‘to chatter’?. Compare holen.