An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Bild

by Friedrich Kluge

Bild, n., ‘image, portrait, representation,’ from MidHG. bilde, OHG. bilidi, n., ‘image, figure, parable, prototype'; similarly OSax. bilithi; there is no corresponding word in E. or Goth. (*biliþi). The derivation from a stem bil-, with which Beil has been absurdly connected, is untenable; bi- is probably the prep. be- (comp. bieder, Bifang, Binse); *liþi is allied to liþu-, ‘limb’ (see Glied); the compound signifies lit. ‘a copy of a limb, counterfeit limb’?. It is impossible to connect it with E. build, which belongs rather to AS. bold, ‘a building,’ and bauen.