An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/naß

by Friedrich Kluge

naß, adj., ‘wet, moist,’ from the equiv. MidHG. and OHG. naȥ, adj.; corresponding to Goth. *nata-, nom. *nats, ‘wet’ (deduced from natjan; see netzen); OSax. and Du. nat. Teut. nata- can scarcely be connected with Sans. nadĭ, f., ‘river,’ because the latter is derived from a root nad, ‘to rush, roar.’ Perhaps Gr. νοτερός, ‘wet’ (νοτέω, ‘I am wet’), points, like the Teut. cognates, to a root not, nod (comp. Naß with Gr. κότος). Netz likewise may be primit. allied; see Netz and netzen. —