An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Schere

by Friedrich Kluge

Schere (1.), f., ‘scissors, shears,’ from the equiv. MidHG. schœre, f., which is probably plur., OHG. scârî, plur. of skar and skâra, ‘shears’; with regard to the plur. comp. Ital. cesoje and forbici, plur., Fr. ciseaux, equiv. to E. scissors. In Sans. the word was of course dual; comp. bhuríjâ (Rig-Veda), dual ‘shears.’ Comp. Du. schaar, MidE. schêre, E. shears (plur.), and the equiv. OIc. skœ́re, neut. plur. See scheren.

Schere (2.), f., ‘rock, reef,’ ModHG. only, formed from the equiv. Swed. skär (Dan. skjœr), n.; comp. OIc. sker, ‘cliff.’