An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Fluß

by Friedrich Kluge

Fluß, m., ‘river, stream, flow,’ from MidHG. vluȥ, OHG. fluȥ, m., ‘river, stream, cast, bronze cast, rheumatism’; in these senses simply a ModHG. derivative of fließen, pointing to Goth *fluti-. E. flyte signifies a peculiar kind of ‘vessel, pontoon.’ For the genuinely Teut. word for ‘river, flowing water,’ see under Au; comp. also Strom.