An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Specht

by Friedrich Kluge

Specht, m., ‘woodpecker,’ from the equiv. MidHG. and OHG. spëht, m.; Du. specht and E. speight, ‘woodpecker,’ are G. loan-words; also OHG. and MidHG. spëch (from a Teut. spëcca are derived OFr. espeche, ModFr. epeiche, ‘woodpecker’). Probably cognate with Lat. pîcus, ‘woodpecker’; the name is said to mean ‘speckled,’ and is usually connected with Lat. pingo, ‘I paint,’ pictus (Gr. ποικίλος), ‘ornate,’ or with E. speck, AS. spëcca, ‘spot.’ If OHG. spëht (Du. specht) be not allied to Lat. pîcus, it may be referred as ‘spy, watcher,’ to the root of spähen, ‘to spy.’ Deriv. Spessart, equiv. to Spëhtes hart, lit. ‘woodpecker's forest.’