An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Fetzen

by Friedrich Kluge

Fetzen, m., from the equiv. MidHG. vêtze, m., ‘rag, tatters’; probably from MidHG. vaȥȥen, ‘to dress,’ OIc. fǫt, ‘clothes.’ From a Teut. (Goth.) fata, ‘clothes,’ Span. hato, and Port. fato, ‘wardrobe,’ are derived. Comp. fassen, Faß. In the dialectal compounds Alltags-, Sonntagsfetzen, Fetzen denotes ‘clothes.’