An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Pfeiler

by Friedrich Kluge

Pfeiler, m., from the equiv. MidHG. pfîlœre, OHG. pfîlâri, m., ‘pillar’; borrowed prior to the OHG. period from MidLat. pîlâre, pîlarius (Lat. pîla), ‘pillar,’ whence also Du. pijlaar. Comp. Ital. piliere, Fr. pilier, E. pillar (to which E. and Fr. pile, formed from Lat. pîla, is allied).