An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Schanze

by Friedrich Kluge

Schanze (1.), f., ‘chance, fortune’; comp. etwas in die Schanze schlagen, ‘to hazard something.’ From MidHG. schanze, f., ‘throw at dice, lucky throw, game’; borrowed from the equiv. Fr. and E. chance (MidLat. cadentia, ‘throwing of the dice,’ Ital. cadenza, ‘fall’).

Schanze (2.), f., ‘redoubt, earthwork,’ from late MidHG. schanze, f., ‘bundle of faggots, redoubt’; akin to Du. schans. Of obscure origin.