An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Hellbank

by Friedrich Kluge

Hellbank, Höllbank, f., ‘bench near the stove,’ allied to earlier ModHG. Helle, Hölle, f., ‘the narrow space between the stove and the wall’; the word is first recorded towards the end of the 15th cent., but was in existence at an earlier period. Comp. AS. heal, MidE. hal, ‘angle, corner’ (comp. OIr. cuil, ‘corner’). The ModHG. form is due to a confusion with Hölle, which, like the ModHG. Hell- ‘winkel,’ is connected with the root hel, ‘to veil, conceal.’