An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Kreide

by Friedrich Kluge

Kreide, f., ‘chalk,’ from the equiv. MidHG. krîde, late OHG. krîda, f.; ultimate source Lat. crêta, f., ‘Cretan earth’ The change from Lat. ê to HG. î cannot be explained by the ModGr. pronunciation of Crete (comp. MidHG. Krîde, Scand. Krít, ‘Crete’), since there are other instances in which Lat. ê appears in HG. loan-words,, as î; comp. Feier, and espec. Seide. Besides, the word crêta, ‘Cretan earth,’ is unknown to. Gr. The more precise history of the adoption of HG. krîda is obscure (the corresponding words in Rom. are Ital. creta and Fr. craie).