An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Hagestolz

by Friedrich Kluge

Hagestolz, m., ‘old bachelor,’ from MidHG. hagestolz, m., a strange corruption of the earlier hagestalt, OHG. hagastalt, m., prop. ‘possessor of an enclosure’ (allied to Goth. staldan, ‘to possess’); a West Teut. legal term, which originated before the Anglo-Saxons crossed to England (comp. also OIc. haukstaldr). It was used in contrast to the owner of the manor-house, which was inherited by the eldest son, in accordance with the OTeut. custom of primogeniture, and signified the owner of a small enclosed plot of ground, such as fell to the other sons, who could not set up a house of their own, and were often entirely dependent on their eldest brother. Even in OHG. glosses, hagustalt as an adj. is used for Lat. caelebs (hagustalt lîp, ‘single life’), and even for mercenarius, ‘hired labourer’; MidHG. hagestalt, m., ‘single man’; OSax. hagustald, m., ‘farm-servant, servant, young man’; AS. hœgsteald, hagosteald, m., ‘youth, warrior.’ The same phases in the development of meaning may be seen in the Rom.-Lat. baccalaureus, Fr. bachelier, E. bachelor.