An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Seil

by Friedrich Kluge

Seil, n., ‘rope,’ from MidHG. and OHG. seil, n., ‘rope, cord’; corresponding to OSax. sêl, AS. sâl, OIc. seil, Goth. *sail, n., ‘rope’ (from insailjan, ‘to lower or let down with cords’). A common Teut. word sailo-m, which, like the equiv. OSlov. silo, is derived from the widely diffused Aryan root sī̆, ‘to bind.’ Comp. the Sans. root sì, ‘to bind,’ sẽtu, ‘bond, fetter,’ Gr. ἱ-μάς, ‘strap’, and ἱ-μονιά ‘well-rope,’ Lett. sinu, ‘to bind’; also OHG. si-lo, MidHG. sil, m., ‘traces of draught cattle’; OSax. sī̆mo, ‘strap,’ OIc. síme. See Seite and Siele.