An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Priester

by Friedrich Kluge

Priester, m., ‘priest,’ from the equiv. MidHG. priester, OHG. priestar (prêstar), m.; corresponding to OSax. prêstar, Du. priester (AS. preôst, E. priest, OIc. prest-r). The cognates were borrowed, at a comparatively late period, from Lat. and Rom. presbyter (Gr. πρεσβύτερος), or rather from its shortened variant *prêster, whence also Fr. prêtre (OFr. prestre), as well as Ital. prete, Span. preste (likewise OIr. cruimther). The orig. sense, ‘elder,’ was a respectful term applied to the spiritual head of the community (orig. used perhaps only in addressing him); comp. Abt, Papst, and also Herr. The Lat. word was not adopted in OHG. before the 9th cent. (contemporaneously with predigen).