An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Brücke

by Friedrich Kluge

Brücke, f., ‘bridge,’ from the equiv. MidHG. brücke, OHG. brucka, f., which points to Goth. *brugjô, f.; comp. Du. brug, AS. brycg, E. bridge. Besides the meaning ‘bridge,’ common to West Teut., the OIc. bryggja (likewise LG. brügge) is used in the sense of ‘landing-place, pier,’ while brú (equal to ModHG. Braue) is the proper Scand. word for ‘bridge.’ Brücke (from *brugjô-) is undoubtedly allied to OIc. brú; no common Aryan term for bridge can be found. OSlov. brŭvĭ also means both ‘eyebrow’ and ‘bridge,’ and OHG. brâwa (see under Braue) is identical with OGall. brîva, ‘bridge,’ both of which point to Aryan bhrêwâ. With regard to the transition of *brawî to *brugî, see Jugend.