An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Gewitter

by Friedrich Kluge

Gewitter, n., ‘thunder-storm,’ from MidHG. gewitere, OHG. giwitiri, ‘bad weather’; collective of Wetter; corresponding to OSax. giwidiri, Goth. *gawidri, n. The ModHG. meaning is wanting in OHG. and MidHG. OHG. giwitiri may also mean ‘hail.’