An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Barsch

by Friedrich Kluge

Barsch, m., ‘perch,’ from the equiv. MidHG. bars, m.; there is also a deriv. form MidHG. and OHG. bersich; comp. the corresponding Du. baars, AS. bœrs, bears, E. dial. barse (bass); allied to the compounds Sw. abborre, Dan. aborre (rr from rs), with the same meaning. The cognates cannot have been borrowed from the equiv. Lat. perca; they are more akin to the Teut. root bars (bors) in Borste, Bürste, signifying ‘to be bristly.’