An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Quast

by Friedrich Kluge

Quast, m., ‘tuft, tassel,’ from MidHG. quast (queste, koste), m. and f., ‘cluster of leaves, bath-brush’ (OHG. questa, ‘apron of leaves’); comp. Du. kwast, ‘brush for sprinkling holy water, brush’ (Dan. kost, ‘besom,’ akin to OIc. kvistr, ‘branch’).