An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Zeche

by Friedrich Kluge

Zeche, f., ‘rotation (of duties), succession, hotel bill, share in a reckoning (at an inn), drinking party (each paying a share), corporation, guild, club,’ from the equiv. MidHG. zëche, f. (which also means arrangement, association); also in MidHG. zëchen (OHG. *zëhhôn), wk. vb., ‘to arrange, prepare, bring about,’ also (late), ‘to run up a score at an inn.’ In OHG. only the word gizëhôn, ‘to arrange, regulate,’ from this stem is found; comp. the allied AS. teohhian and teógan (from *tëhhôn, tëhwôn, tëhôn), ‘to arrange, determine, regulate,’ and teoh (hh), ‘company, troop.’ A Teut. root tē̆hw, tē̆gw (tē̆w), is indicated by Goth. gatêwjan, ‘to ordain,’ têwa, ‘order,’ têwi, ‘troop of fifty men.’ These imply a pre-Teut. root dē̆g, ‘to arrange, regulate’ (to which Gr. δεῖπνον, ‘meal,’ for deqnjom?, is allied). The numerous senses in MidHG. may be easily deduced from the primary meaning.