An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Beichte

by Friedrich Kluge

Beichte, feminine, ‘confession,’ from the equivalent Middle High German bîht, contracted from Middle High German and Old High German bíjiht, bígiht; a regular verbal noun from Middle High German bejëhen, Old High German bi-jëhan, ‘to confess, acknowledge.’ The simple form jëhan, usually signifying ‘to say, speak out,’ also means occasionally ‘to avow, confess’; hence Old French gehir. This verb jëhan may possibly be connected with ja, which see.