An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Dust

by Friedrich Kluge

Dust, m., ‘dust, powder,’ simply ModHG., from LG. dust; corresponds to E. dust (but see further Dunst). The final t is probably a deriv.; dus, the root, may be the weakest form of an Aryan dhwes; OInd. dhvas, dhvaṅs, seems to have been always nasalised; it signifies ‘fly about like dust, scatter dust when running swiftly,’ which is in harmony with the meaning of Dust, ‘dust.’