An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Zitter

by Friedrich Kluge

Zitter, Zieter, f., ‘thill, shaft,’ from the equiv. MidHG. zieter, OHG. ziotar, zieter, m. and n. The latter can hardly represent *ziohtar (allied to ziehen) on account of AS. teóder, E. tether, OIc. tjóðr, ‘rope.’ The unintelligible ModHG. word was popularly, but wrongly, connected with zittern (dial. Zetter, Zitterstange).