An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Barte

by Friedrich Kluge

Barte (1.), f., ‘broad axe,’ from the equiv. MidHG. barte, OHG. barta, f.; in Bav.-Suab. the word, which is properly North G., does not occur; allied to ODu. and OSax. barda, OIc. barða (OFr. barde, ‘hatchet,’ is borrowed from Teut.). From this word OSlov. brady, f., ‘axe,’ is borrowed. The words are derivatives of the stem bhardh- appearing in Bart; the axe is, as it were, ‘the bearded thing,’ OIc. skeggja, ‘broad axe,’ being related in a similar way to ‘beard’; likewise MidE. barbe (from Lat.-Rom. barba) signifies, among other things, ‘edge of the axe.’ Comp. Hellebarde.

Barte (2.), f., ‘baleen,’ a deriv. of Bart, first occurring in ModHG., and akin to Barte; comp. E. barbs, from Lat. barba; Du. baarden, plur.