An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Faden

by Friedrich Kluge

Faden, m., ‘thread, file, shred,’ from the equiv. MidHG. vaden, vadem, OHG. fadam, fadum, m.; Goth. *faþms is wanting. Comp. OSax. fathmos, ‘both arms stretched out,’ AS. fœþm, ‘both arms distended, embrace, protection, bosom,’ E. fathom (a measure), OIc. faðmr, ‘both arms, bosom.’ Consequently the primary sense is ‘encompassing with both arms,’ which could be adopted as a measure (see Klafter); hence the use of ‘fathom’ as a measure in Eng., Scand., LG., Du., and also in ModHG. (adopted from LG. and Du.). The ModHG. meaning ‘thread’ is a recent development; its lit. sense is ‘as much yarn as can be measured with the arms stretched out.’ The primary sense, ‘encompassing,’ results from Goth. faþa, f., MidHG. vade, f., ‘hedge, enclosure.’ The base of the cognates is a Teut. root, feþ, faþ, pre-Teut. pet, pot, which accords with the Gr. πετ in πετάννυμι, ‘to spread out,’ πέταλος, ‘outspread, broad, flat’; Lat. patere, ‘to stand open,’ is even more remote.