An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Pflicht

by Friedrich Kluge

Pflicht, f., ‘obligation, duty, allegiance,’ from MidHG. and OHG. pfliht, f., ‘friendly care, nursing, intercourse, sympathy, service, obligation’; a verbal abstract from pflegen; allied to AS. pliht, ‘danger,’ E. plight, as well as AS. pleón, ‘to risk,’ and pleóh, ‘danger’.