An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Osten
Appearance
Osten, m., from the equiv. MidHG. ôsten, m. and n., OHG. ôstan, m. and n., ‘east’; the form Ost is wanting in MidHG. and OHG.; it has probably been recently coined; comp. Nord and Norden, Süd and Suden, West and Westen. Yet even in AS. eást, E. east, occurs, whence Fr. est. —