An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Bahn

by Friedrich Kluge

Bahn, f., ‘path, track, career,’ from MidHG. bane, ban, f., m., ‘road, way’; allied to MidDu. bane, Du. baan. No word identical with this is found in any of the older periods of the Teut. group. The cognates of bohnen are probably allied to it.