An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Götze

by Friedrich Kluge

Götze, ‘idols, false god,’ from MidHG. götze, m., ‘statue for ecclesiastical purposes’; lit. ‘cast (image),’ (allied to gießen, MidHG. gieȥen?). Perhaps, however, Götze is a short form of Götterbild, just as Götz is pet name for Gottfried; comp. Spatz and Sperling.