An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Samt

by Friedrich Kluge

Samt, m., ‘velvet,’ from the equiv. MidHG. samît, samâdt, m.; borrowed in the MidHG. period from Rom.; comp. MidLat. samîtum, Ital. sciamito, OFr. samit. The ultimate source is MidLat. examîtum, ModGr. ἐξάμιτον, ‘a stuff made of six twisted threads’ (Gr. μὲτος, ‘thread’), whence also OSlov. aksamitŭ, ‘velvet.’ Span. and Port. terciopelo, ‘velvet,’ lit. ‘consisting of triple threads,’ is similarly formed.