An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Wimpel

by Friedrich Kluge

Wimpel, m. and f., ‘pennon, flag, streamer,’ from MidHG. wimpel, f. and m., ‘banner, flag, naval ensign, kerchief,’ OHG. wimpal, ‘frontlet, veil.’ Allied to Fr. guimpe (OFr. guimple), ‘wimple, stomacher,’ Du. wimpel, AS. winpel, wimpel, E. wimple. The exact relation of these apparently compound words to one another is obscure, since the LG. dialects have mp coinciding with HG. (we should have expected mf in HG.). Since it is not yet known in which group it was borrowed, nothing definite can be said concerning its early history. The evolution in meaning is similar to that of Fahne.