An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Brassen

by Friedrich Kluge

Brassen, m., ‘bream,’ from the equiv. MidHG. brahsen, brasem, OHG. brahsa, brahsima, brahsina, m., f.; the UpG. dialects still preserve the form Brachsme (the forms Brasse, f., Brassen, m., are MidLG. and MidGer.). Comp. the equiv. Du. brasem, E. brasse. From OGer. is derived Fr. brême (from brahsme?), whence E. bream is borrowed. The class belongs perhaps to an OTeut. str. vb. brëhwan, ‘to shine.’