An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Zeug

by Friedrich Kluge

Zeug, n., ‘stuff, substance, material, fabric, apparatus, utensils,’ from MidHG. ziuc (g), m. and n., ‘tool, implements, equipment, weapons, baggage, stuff, testimony, proof, witness'; OHG. giziug, m. and n., ‘equipment, implements’ (hence ModHG. Zeughaus, ‘arsenal’). Allied to ModHG. Zeuge, m., ‘witness,’ from the equiv. late MidHG. (rare) ziuge. Also zeugen, vb., ‘to produce, beget, bear witness, testify,’ from MidHG. ziugen, ‘to beget, prepare, procure, acquire, bear witness, prove,’ OHG. giziugôn, ‘to attest, show.’ All the cognates are derived from the Teut. root tuh (see ziehen), which in a few derivatives appears in the sense of ‘to produce, beget’; comp. AS. teám, ‘descendants’ (to which E. to teem is allied), Du. toom, ‘brood.’ From the same root the meaning ‘to attest, show,’ (OHG. giziugôn), lit. ‘to be put on judicial record,’ must be derived.