An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Pfütze

by Friedrich Kluge

Pfütze, f., ‘puddle, slough,’ from MidHG. pfütze, f., ‘pool, puddle, well,’ OHG. (MidG.) pfuzzi, pfuzza (UpG.), buzza, f.; corresponding to OLG. putti, ‘well,’ Du. put, ‘well, puddle,’ AS. pytt, ‘well, pit,’ E. pit. The permutation of LG. t to zz, and the diffusion of the word throughout West Teut., proves the existence of the cognates in Germany in the 6th or 7th cent.; yet UpG. buzza seems to be a recently borrowed term. The word is based on Lat. puteus, ‘well, cistern,’ whence also Ital. pozzo, ‘draw-well,’ pozza, ‘puddle, pool,’ Fr. puits, ‘well’; likewise OIr. cuithe, W. peten, ‘well.’