An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Hälfte

by Friedrich Kluge

Hälfte, f., ‘half’ ModHG. simply, abstract of halb. Introduced by Luther into the literary language from MidG. and LG. (a strictly HG. word would end in b instead of f; comp. OSax. half, under halb); the Teut. type is probably halƀiþa?. In UpG. Halbteil (16th cent.) is used.