An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Sperber

by Friedrich Kluge

Sperber, m., ‘sparrow-hawk,’ from the equiv. MidHG. spęrwœre, sparwœre, OHG. sparwâri, m. (comp. Du. sperwer). A derivative of the Teut. sparwa-, ‘sparrow’ (see Sperling); hence sparwâri is lit. ‘bird of prey that lives on sparrows’ (in MidHG. also sprinze, f., ‘female sparrow-hawk’). OHG. sparwā̆ri is a compound of aro, ‘eagle’; comp. OHG. mûs-ari, chranuh-ari, and AS. gôs-heafoc, mûs-heafoc, spear-heafoc (‘sparrow-hawk,’ like OHG. sparw-ari). OHG. aro, ‘eagle,’ may appear as ari in the second part of a compound. From Teut. are derived the Rom. terms, Ital. sparaviere, Fr. épervier.