An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Watte
Watte, f., ‘wadding, fleece,’ ModHG. only, from Du. watte; allied to the equiv. E. wad, Fr. ouate, Ital. ovate. The origin of the cognates is not to be sought for in Teut., since the Teut. words have appeared only in modern times, and no other undoubted cognates are to be found in the group. The word was also borrowed in Romance.