An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Pflaster

by Friedrich Kluge

Pflaster, n., ‘plaster, pavement,’ from MidHG. pflaster, OHG. pflastar, n., ‘plaster, court-plaster, cement, mortar, floor of cement or stones’; borrowed, perhaps contemporaneously with Büchse, in the 8th cent., from Gr.-Lat. ἔμπλαστρον (comp. Ital. empiastro, Fr. emplâtre), ‘plaster,’ which in MidLat. also assumed the meaning ‘gypsum’ (comp. ModFr. plâtre), and was shortened to plastrum; comp. Ital. piastrello, ‘small plaster.’ In the sense of ‘pavement’ MidHG. pflaster was first used at the end of the MidHG. period. Comp. E. plaster and to emplaster.