An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Gatte

by Friedrich Kluge

Gatte, m., ‘spouse, consort, husband,’ from MidHG. gate (also gegate), m., ‘equal associate, one's equals, husband'; comp. Du. gade, ‘husband.’ The last meaning is rare in the MidHG. period, and first prevailed over the others in the last century; it is a specialisation of the idea ‘belonging to one another'; comp. OSax. gigado, ‘one's equals,’ AS. gegada, ‘companion’; also Goth. gadiliggs, ‘relative,’ AS. gœdeling, ‘member of the same tribe,’ OHG. gatuling, ‘cousin,’ OSax. gaduling, ‘countryman, member of the same tribe.’ ModHG. gatten (sich gatten), vb., is from MidHG. gaten, ‘to come together, agree'; MidHG. (essentially MidG.) gater, ‘together,’ Du. te gader, AS. geador and tôgœdere. E. together; AS. gadrian, E. to gather (Du. vergaderen, ‘to assemble’); OHG. gęti-lôs, MidHG. gęte-lôs, adj., ‘wanton, dissolute,’ lit. ‘free from the restraining bond.’ The ideas of ‘belonging to one another' and of ‘suiting’ are seen in all the cognates of gut.