An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Netz

by Friedrich Kluge

Netz, n., ‘net,’ from the equiv. MidHG. nętze, OHG. nęzzi, n.; corresponding to OSax. nęt (and nętti), n., Du., AS., and E. net, Goth. nati, OIc. net, n., ‘net’; a common Teut. term, to which the graded Scand. nȯt, ‘large net,’ is allied. The etymology is obscure; it is scarcely allied to naß, Teut. *nata-; it is rather connected with Nessel, with which it may be based on a pre-Teut. root nū̆d, ‘to sew, knit.’ Comp. also Lat. nassa, ‘creel, net.’