An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Abgott

by Friedrich Kluge

Abgott, masculine, ‘idol,’ from Middle High German and Old High German abgot, neuter, ‘idol, idolatrous image’; note the retention of the older gender of Gott as late as Middle High German; compare Gothic afguþs, ‘godless’ (antithesis to gaguþs, ‘pious’); hence Abgott is properly ‘false god’; see Aberwitz.