An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Gilde

by Friedrich Kluge

Gilde, f., ‘guild, corporation,’ ModHG. only, from the equiv. Du. gild; corresponding to OIc. gilde, ‘guild’ (from the middle of the 11th cent.), MidE. gilde, E. guild. The prim. meaning of the word, which first appears in Scand., is ‘sacrifice, sacrificial feast, festive gathering, club’; allied to gelten (in the sense of ‘to sacrifice,’ in OSax. geldan, and in AS. gildan).