An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Halde

by Friedrich Kluge

Halde, f., ‘precipice, declivity, slope,’ from MidHG. halde, OHG. halda, f., ‘mountain declivity.’ OIc. hallr, ‘hill, slope,’ caorresponds both to the HG. word and to Goth. hallus, AS. heall, which are translations of ‘petra’; see Holm. These may be further related to HG. Halde, which, however, is more closely connected with Goth. *halþs, ‘inclined’; comp. AS. heald, OIc. hallr, OHG. hald, adj., ‘overhanging, inclined’; yet the dental in these words may be a suffix. If Goth. hallus, ‘rock,’ were allied, OIc. hváll, hóll (Goth. *hwêlus), m., ‘hill,’ might be compared, as well as AS. hyll, E. hill. For an Aryan root kel, ‘to rise,’ comp. Lat. celsus, collis, and Lith. kalnas, ‘hill.’