An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Bellhammel

by Friedrich Kluge

Bellhammel, masculine, ‘bell-wether,’ Modern High German only; a Low German word (Upper German herma, equivalent to Herdmann, ‘herdsman’), corresponding exactly to Dutch bel-hamel, English bell-wether. French clocheman, clocman (of German origin), also French mouton à la sonnette, make the connection of Bellhammel with Dutch bel, Middle Dutch and Anglo-Saxon belle, English bell, indubitable. In French animal fables the bell-wether has the proper name Belin (akin to French belier, ‘ram’), from the Dutch bel, ‘little bell,’ whence also French bélière, ‘ring of a bell-clapper.’