An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/keifen

by Friedrich Kluge

keifen, vb., ‘to scold,’ with the LG. form for the strictly HG. keiben, MidHG. kîben, ‘to upbraid, quarrel,’ with the equiv. frequentative kibeln, kiveln; MidHG. kîp, kîbes, m., ‘wrangling manner, defiance, refractoriness.’ MidLG. kîven, Du. kijven, ‘to upbraid,’ Scand. kífa, ‘to quarrel,’ kíf, ‘quarrel.’