An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Zeh

by Friedrich Kluge

Zeh, m. and f., ‘toe,’ from the equiv. MidHG. zéhe, OHG. zéha, f.; corresponding to Du. teen, AS. tâhœ, tâ, E. toe, and the equiv. OIc. tá. Beside the base taihôn, taihwôn (Bav. zéchen and Swab. zaichen), assumed by these forms, MidHG. and LG. dialects prove the existence of a variant taiwón (from taigwôn, taihwôn); Swiss and MidRhen. zêb, zêbe, Franc. and Henneberg. zêwe, Thuring. zîwe. Pre-Teut. daiqâ-n, ‘toe,’ is usually connected with Gr. δάκτυλος (Lat. digitus?) ‘finger,’ which, on account of the sounds, is, however, improbable, especially as the Teut. word is always used in the sense of ‘toe.’