An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Dolmetsch

by Friedrich Kluge

Dolmetsch, m., ‘interpreter,’ from the equiv. MidHG. tolmetsche, tolmetze, tulmetsche; a Turk. word (North Turk. tilmač) which found its way into MidHG. through Magyar (tolmács) or Slav. (OSlov. tlǔmačĭ, Pol. tlumacz, Bohem. tlumač); also in MidHG. tolc, tolke (comp. further Du. tolk), ‘interpreter,’ from OSlov. tlŭkŭ (whence also Lith. tulkas, Lett. tulks, ‘interpreter’).