An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Draht

by Friedrich Kluge

Draht, m., ‘wire, file,’ from the equiv. MidHG. and OHG. drât, m.; comp. Du. draad, AS. þrœ̂d, equiv. to E. thread, OIc. þráðr, Goth. *þrêþs; a dental deriv. of the Teut. root þrê, ‘to turn, twist,’ which appears in ModHG. drehen. The pre-Teut. trê lies at the base of Gr. τρῆσις, ‘hole,’ which is identical in form with ModHG. Draht; for the meaning comp. drehen, Darm.