An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Gebühr

by Friedrich Kluge

Gebühr, Gebür, f., ‘duty, propriety, dues, fees,’ allied to gebühren, MidHG. gebürn, OHG. giburien, wk. vb., ‘to occur, happen, fall to one's lot, devolve on by law, be due’; corresponding to OSax. giburian, AS. gebyrian, OIc. byrja, ‘to be suitable, becoming, fit’; Goth. *gabaúrjan, wk. vb., may be inferred from gabaurjaba, adv., ‘willingly’ (lit. ‘in a fitting manner’?), and gabaurjôþus, m., ‘pleasure.’ The whole class is probably connected with the root ber ‘to carry’; comp. LG. bühren, ‘to raise aloft,’ see empor; hence OHG. buri dik, ‘go (thou)’, lit. ‘raise thyself,’ giburita, ‘pervenit’; burien, büren, also ‘to come to pass.’ See Bahre, Börde.