An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Gerte

by Friedrich Kluge

Gerte, f., from the equiv. MidHG. gęrte, OHG. gartia, f., ‘rod, twig, staff’; a derivative of OHG. and MidHG. gart, ‘rod, staff, stick.’ To the latter correspond Goth. gazds (comp. Hort, equiv. to Goth. huzds), ‘stick,’ and OIc. gaddr (E. goad and its equiv. AS. gâd are not allied; see Ger). Probably Teut. gazda- (OHG. gęrta would be *gazdjô) is primit. allied to Lat. hasta (from Aryan gazdhâ), ‘spear.’