An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Stamm

by Friedrich Kluge

Stamm, m., ‘stem, trunk, stock, tribe,’ from MidHG. and OHG. stam (mm), m., ‘trunk, pedigree, race, reason, cause’; corresponding to Du. stam, AS. stemn (stœfn), E. stem (see Steven), OIc. stafn. The implied Teut. stamno- (hardly for stabno-, allied to Stab), a derivative of the Aryan root stā̆, ‘to stand,’ is equiv. to Ir. tamon (for *stamon-), ‘pedigree,’ and Gr. στάμνος, ‘wine jar,’ the meaning of which recalls ModHG. Ständer.