An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Tugend

by Friedrich Kluge

Tugend, f., ‘virtue, chastity,’ from MidHG. tugent, tugende, f., ‘manly excellence, power, good quality, virtue’; OHG. tugund, f., as a derivative of tugan (see taugen), signifies lit. ‘serviceableness, fitness.’ Goth. *dugunþus (derivative unþu-, from pre-Teut. entu-) is also indicated by AS. duguþ.