An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Kreis

by Friedrich Kluge

Kreis, m., ‘circle, orbit, sphere,’ from MidHG. kreiȥ, m., ‘circumference, circuit, division of a country district’; OHG. chreiȥ, pointing to Goth. *kraits, and D, krijt to. Goth. *kreits, Comp. MidHG. krîȥen (MidG.), ‘to make a circle.’ The word cannot be traced beyond G.; it is not allied to Kranz and Kring. Comp. kritzeln.