An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Fee

by Friedrich Kluge

Fee, Fei, f., ‘fairy,’ from the equiv. MidHG. fei, feie, f.; borrowed from an OFr. dialect (Burgund.), feie, ModFr. fée (Ital. and Romance, fata, lit. ‘goddess of destiny,’ from Lat. fatum), whence also E. fay and fairy.