An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Schilf

by Friedrich Kluge

Schilf, n., ‘rush, bulrush, reed,’ from the equiv. MidHG. schilf, OHG. sciluf (m. and n.?); unknown to the other Teut. dials.; perhaps it is an early loan-word from Lat. scirpus, ‘rush,’ to which it cannot be primit. allied. Others, regarding Schilf as a genuine Teut. word, connect it with OHG. sceliva, MidHG. schelfe, ‘bowl of fruit and pulse.’