An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Wade

by Friedrich Kluge

Wade, f., ‘calf’ (of the leg), from the equiv. MidHG. wade, m. (used chiefly in the plur.), OHG. wado, m.; comp. the equiv. Du. wade. OIc. vǫðve, m., ‘muscle,’ shows that the more general meaning was ‘muscle’; OHG. ado (accus. wadun) is based on Teut. waþwo, m. There are no cognates in the non-Teut. languages.