An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/-aff

by Friedrich Kluge

-aff, suffix used to form names of rivers (Erlaff, OHG. Eril-affa, Aschaff, OHG. Asc-affa), and of places (esp. in Franc. and Hess., comp. Honeff), allied to which -ep, p (also Westph.), occurs as an unchanged LG. form, e.g. in Lennep. The base *apa is Kelt. (equiv. to Lat. aqua, ‘water,’ Goth. ahwa, ‘river’).