An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Schaf

by Friedrich Kluge

Schaf, n., ‘sheep,’ from the equiv. MidHG. schâf, OHG. scâf, n.; common to West Teut. in the same sense; comp. OSax. scâp, n., Du. schaap, n., AS. sčęâp, n., E. sheep; in Goth. lamb (see Lamm), OIc. fœ́r, f., ‘sheep,’ whence Fœ́r-eyjar, ‘the Faroe Isles’ (lit. ‘sheep isles’). Teut. skêpo- (for *skêqo-) corresponds perhaps to Sans. châga, ‘he-goat.’ Yet Aryan owis, by inference from Lat. ovis, Gr. ὄϝις, Sans. ávis, and Lith. avìs (OSlov. ovĭca), was the oldest term which is preserved in OTeut. and a few ModTeut. dials.; comp. Goth. awistr, ‘sheepfold,’ *aweiþi, ‘flock of sheep,’ OHG. ou, OLG. ęwi, AS. eowu, and E. ewe (to which to yean from ge-eánian is allied?). —