An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Streit

by Friedrich Kluge

Streit, m., ‘dispute, quarrel, strife,’ from the equiv. MidHG. and OHG. strît, m.; allied to ModHG. streiten, MidHG. strîten, OHG. strîtan, str. vb., ‘to quarrel, fight.’ OHG. einstrîti, ‘stubborn,’ OSax. strîd, ‘zeal,’ and OIc. strîðr, ‘stubborn, severe, strong,’ show that Streit has gone through the same development of meanings as Krieg (lit. ‘exertion’); OIc. strîð, n., ‘pain, grief, oppression,’ is, however, remarkable (yet comp. the cognates of ModHG. tapfer). Pre-historic cognates of the Teut. root strîd (for strî’, srî?) are wanting; yet comp. Sans. sridh, ‘enemy.’