An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Kies

by Friedrich Kluge

Kies, m., ‘gravel,’ from the equiv. MidHG. kis, m.; Kiesel, ‘pebble,’ from MidHG. kisel, m., ‘flint-stone, hailstone, large hailstone’; OHG. chisil, AS. čeosel, MidE. chisel, ‘pebble.’ Goth. *kisuls, m., is wanting; this would be a derivative of *kisa-, on which MidHG. kis and ModHG. Kies is probably based. Du. kei and kiezel points to kī̆ as the stem.