An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Flinte

by Friedrich Kluge

Flinte, f., ‘flintlock, gun, musket,’ first used in the 17th cent.; comp. Dan. flint, ‘musket’; probably akin to Swed. flinta, Dan. flint, ‘stone,’ prop. ‘flint-stone.’ Du. and E. preserve older terms — Du. vuurroer, ModHG. Feuerrohr, E. firelock. Flint, ‘stone,’ AS. and E. flint, whence Fr. flin, ‘thunderstone,’ is probably related to Gr. πλίνθος, ‘brick.’