An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Pferch

by Friedrich Kluge

Pferch, m., ‘fold, pen,’ from MidHG. pfęrrich, OHG. pfęrrih, pfarrih (hh), m., ‘fence, enclosure, espec. for sheep’; corresponding to AS. pearroc, m., ‘enclosure, park,’ Du. perk, ‘enclosed space.’ If the words with initial p in LG. and initial pf in HG. are of foreign origin, the term on which they are based must have been introduced, on account of the correspondence between the Continental Ger. and E. words, at a very early date (about the 4th cent.). “It appears even in the earliest MidLat.; parcus, parricus (Leg. Rip. and Leg. Angl.), parc (Leg. Bajuv.), in the latter instance as ‘granary,’” and also in early Rom.; comp. Fr. parc, ‘pen, park’ (see Park), Ital. parco. E. park is based partly on Rom. and partly on the AS. word. The source of all the cognates is incorrectly ascribed to Kelt.; comp. Gael. pâirc, W. parc, parwg.