An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Kilt

by Friedrich Kluge

Kilt, Kiltgang, in Alem. ‘nocturnal meeting’; wanting in MidHG. Comp. OHG. chwiltiwërch, n., ‘evening work’; OIc. kveld, n., ‘evening’ (in Iceland and Norway the usual word for evening, while aptann is used poetically and in stately prose). AS. cwyldhreþe, f., ‘bat,’ lit. ‘evening swiftness,’ cwyldsęten, ‘evening.’ Hence qeldos, n., is the oldest word for ‘evening.’ The loss of the w after k is normal; comp. feck, Rot, and Röder.