An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Pfand

by Friedrich Kluge

Pfand, n., from the equiv. MidHG. pfant (gen. -des), OHG. pfant (gen. -tes), n.) ‘pawn, pledge, security’; it corresponds to MidLG. and Du. pand, and OFris. pand, which have the same meaning. It is usually derived from OFr. pan, ‘cloth, rag’ (from Lat. pannus); the West Teut. word is more closely connected, however, with OFr. paner, Prov. panar, Span. apandar, ‘to fleece a person,’ apañar, ‘to take away’; hence Pfand, ‘taking way,’ or ‘that which is seized’ (OFr. pan, ‘the thing seized,’ whence E. pawn)?.