An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Dorf

by Friedrich Kluge

Dorf, n., ‘village, hamlet,’ from the equiv. MidHG. and OHG. dorf, n.; an OTeut. word; comp. OSax. thorp, Du. dorp, AS. þorp, E. thorp, throp (existing now only in proper names); OIc. þorp, ‘hamlet’; Goth. þaúrp signifies ‘fields, land,’ while in the other dialects the ModHG. meaning of the word is current (in Goth. haims, ‘village’; see Heim). The meaning of ModHG. (Swiss) dorf, ‘visit, meeting,’ connected perhaps with OSlov. trŭgŭ, ‘market,’ deserves special notice. If the history of the word is rendered difficult by such variations of meaning, it is made still more so by the Kelt. *tṛbo, ‘village’; W. tref, ‘village’ (to which the name of the OGall. tribe Atrebates is allied), also connected with Lat. tribus, ‘tribe.’ Moreover, OIc. þyrpa, ‘to crowd,’ is closely akin to Gr. τύρβη, Lat. turba, ‘band.’ Note too AS. þrĕp, þrôp, ‘village,’ Lith. trobà, f., ‘building.’