An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/gelt

by Friedrich Kluge

gelt (1.), particle. See gelten.

gelt (2.), adj., ‘giving no milk, barren,’ from the equiv. MidHG. and OHG. galt; corresponding to OIc. geldr, OSwed. galder, which have the same sense. They are connected perhaps with OHG. galza, MidHG. galze, OIc. gǫltr, ‘gelded pig’ (E. dial., gilt, ilt). The stem on which it is based, gald, galt (from pre-Teut. ghalt, ghaltn-), perhaps meant orig. ‘to castrate’; comp. E. to geld, OIc. gelda, ‘to geld’; akin to Goth. gilþa, ‘sickle’?.