An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Dachs

by Friedrich Kluge

Dachs, m., ‘badger,’ from the equiv. MidHG. dahs, OHG. dahs, m.; undoubtedly a genuine Teut. word, like Fuchs, Bachs, though it cannot be authenticated in the non-Germ. languages (Du. and LG. das). It was adopted by Rom. (MidLat. taxus, Ital. tasso, Fr. taisson). It is probable that the animal, specially characterised by its winter burrow, received its name from the Aryan root teks, ‘to construct.’ In OInd. the root takš properly signifies ‘to construct skilfully, make, build’ (a carriage, pillars of an altar, a settle), while the name of the agent formed from it — takšan — denotes ‘carpenter, worker in wood.’ To the same root belong Gr. τόξον, ‘bow,’ τέκτων, ‘carpenter’; in Teut. also OHG. dëhsala, MidHG. dëhsel, ‘hatchet, axe.’