An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/brüten

by Friedrich Kluge

brüten, ‘to brood,’ from MidHG. brüeten, OHG. bruoten (Goth. *brôdjan); comp. AS. brêdan, E. to breed (with the further signification ‘to beget, bring up’). E. bird, AS. bridd, ‘the young of birds, little bird.’ are often incorrectly allied to brüten; AS. bridd would be in Goth. *bridi (plur. bridja), and consequently the connection of the E. word with HG. brüten (Goth. *brôdjan) becomes impossible. It is worth noticing that Du. broeijen, LG. brœjen, and ModHG. dial. brühen partake of the meaning of brüten. See brühen.