An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Vers

by Friedrich Kluge

Vers, m., ‘verse, couplet,’ from the equiv. MidHG. and OHG. vërs, fërs, m. and n., which was adopted in the OHG. period (as early as the 9th cent.) from Lat. versus, perhaps contemporaneously with Schule and Meister. Comp. Käfig, Brief, and Vesper for the representation of Lat. v by HG. f (comp. AS. fers, and Du. vers).