An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Zelt

by Friedrich Kluge

Zelt, n., ‘tent, pavilion, awning,’ from the equiv. MidHG. zëlt (more frequently gezëlt), OHG. zëlt (usually gizëlt), n. A common Teut. word; comp. AS. gëteld, ‘tent, pavilion, cover’ (hence E. tilt), OIc. tjald, ‘curtain, tent.’ From OTeut., Fr. taudis, ‘hut’ (Span. and Port. toldo, ‘tent’?), is derived; OFr. taudir, ‘to cover,’ points to the AS. str. vb. betëldan, ‘to cover, cover over’ (E. and Du. tent is based upon Fr. tente; comp. Ital. tenda, from Lat. tendere). Hence the evolution of meaning of Zelt may be easily understood from a Teut. root teld, ‘to spread out covers.’ The following word is allied.