An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Vetter

by Friedrich Kluge

Vetter, m., ‘cousin,’ from MidHG. vęter, vętere, m., ‘father's brother, brother's son,’ OHG. fętiro, faterro, fatureo, m., ‘uncle’; for the change of meanings comp. Neffe and Oheim. The earlier meaning is ‘father's brother,’ as is indicated by the clear connection with Vater, by AS. fœdera, ‘uncle’ (with faðu, ‘aunt’), and also by the non-Teut. correspondences which point to Aryan paturyo-, patrwyo-, ‘uncle on the father's side.’ Comp. Lat. patruus, Gr. πάτρως (from *πάτραος), Sans. pîtṛvya, Zend tûirya (from *ptûrya), ‘fathers brother.’ In ModHG. dialects Vetter has acquired the signification of Pfetter, ‘sponsor, godfather’ (MidHG. pfętter, equiv. to Ital. patrino, see Pate), perhaps by connecting it with Gevatter.