An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Halle
Halle, f., ‘hall, large room, entrance hall, porch,’ unknown to MidHG. The word, which was introduced by Luther into the literary language, was originally entirely unknown to the UpG. dials. (in earlier UpG. Vorschopf was used); it may have originated among the Franc. and Sax. tribes of Germany. It is a thorough OTeut. term; OIc. hǫll, f., AS. heall, f., E. hall, OSax. halla, MidLG. halle, f., ‘hall, a large room covered with a roof and open or closed at the side,’ sometimes ‘temple, house of God.’ Not allied to Goth. hallus, AS. heall, ‘rock,’ AS. and E. hill. From the OG. is derived Fr. halle. Against the derivation from the root hel, ‘to conceal’ (comp. hehlen), there is no weighty objection, Halle, ‘the concealed or covered place.’ Yet comp. also Sans. çâlâ, ‘house.’ —
Halle, f., ‘saltern,’ is the ordinary G. Halle, not, as was formerly supposed, a Kelt. term (W. halen, ‘salt’); Halloren, a late Lat. derivative of Halle, ‘saltern.’ Comp. OHG. halhûs, ‘salt-house,’ MidHG. halgrâve, m., ‘director and judge in matters connected with salt-mines.’