An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Hippe

by Friedrich Kluge

Hippe (1.), f., ‘sickle,’ a MidG. form introduced by Luther into the ModHG. literary language instead of Heppe, from MidHG. hęppe, hepe (hâppe), f., ‘pruning-hook’.; OHG. hęppa (hâppa), f., whence Fr. happe, ‘axle-tree bed, cramp’ (from the type happia, Fr. hache, ‘hatchet,’ is derived). Numerous South-Western dials. (Suab. also) use hâp (hôp), from MidHG. hâpe, OHG. hâppa (from Goth. *hêb-). Allied to Gr. κώπη, ‘hilt, handle’?, κοπίς, ‘knife, dagger’?.

Hippe (2.), f., Hipplein, n., ‘goat,’ only in ModHG.; the more usual dial. heppe (Bav., Thur., and Hess.) makes it probable that the word is a pet or child's term for OG. *haber, ‘he-goat’; on this point see Habergeiß and Hitte.