An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Küster

by Friedrich Kluge

Küster, m., ‘sacristan,’ from the equiv. MidHG. and OHG. kustor, kuster, m. Adopted on the introduction of Christianity. While Kreuz, from OHG. chrûzi, is based upon the Lat. stem cruci-, acc. sing. crucem (and not the nomin. crux), Küster, on the other hand, is not derived from Lat. custodem (stem custodi-), or even from the non. sing. custos, since in the OHG. period the change of s into r no longer occurs. We have rather to proceed from an actually recorded MidLat. custor, custorem, a rare variant of the more prevalent form custod-, which appears also in Fr. coutre, OFr. costre, ‘sacristan.’ MidLat. custos (scil. ecclesiae), ‘warden, guardian of the church jewels, holy vessels, &c., presbyter s. clericus cui ecclesiae et templi cura incumbit.’ With the same sense MidLat. costurarius, whence OSax. costarâri, as well as ModHG. dial. Gusterer.