An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Saal
Saal, m., ‘hall, large room, drawing-room,’ from MidHG. and OHG. sal, m. and n., ‘house, large room, hall, building generally containing only one room, especially used for assemblies’; OSax. sęli, m., ‘building consisting of only one large room.’ In OHG. and OSax. the term sęlihûs, ‘house with a large room,’ is also used; AS. sęle, salor, sœl, ‘hall, palace,’ OIc. salr, m. (OTeut. saloz, saliz, n., may be assumed). Goth. preserves only the allied saljan, ‘to find shelter, remain,’ and saliþwôs, f. plur. ‘lodging, guest-chamber’; comp. with the latter OHG. sęlida, f., ‘dwelling,’ MidHG. sęlde. To these OSlov. selitva, f., ‘dwelling,’ and selo, n., ‘courtyard, village,’ and also Lat. sŏlum, ‘soil, ground.’ From the Teut. cognates are derived the Rom. class, Ital. sala, Fr. salle, ‘hall, room.’