An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Ferse

by Friedrich Kluge

Ferse, f., ‘heel, track, footsteps,’ from the equiv. MidHG. vërsen, OHG. fërsana, f.; corresponds to Goth. fairzna (for *fairsna), f., AS. fyrsn, f. (pointing to Goth. *faírsni-); E. obsolete, the term ‘heel’ (AS. hêla) being used, in Scand. hœ̂ll; Du. verzen, OSax. fërsna. Common, like Fuß, and numerous other terms relating to the body (Herz, Niere, Ohr, Nase, &c.), to Teut. and the allied languages, and hence derived from the OAryan vocabulary; comp. fersnó-, -ni-, from pre-Teut. pē̆rs-nâ, -ni-, with Sans. pâršṇi-s, f. (like AS. fyrsn in the formation of its stem), Zend pâšna, m., Gr. πτέρνα, f., ‘heel, ham,’ Lat. perna, ‘leg (of mutton, &c.), ham,’ pernix, ‘quick, speedy’ (for *persna, *persnix).