An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Borte

by Friedrich Kluge

Borte, feminine, ‘ribbon or trimming of gold thread and silk,’ the earlier meaning is simply ‘border’; Middle High German borte, ‘border, frame, ribbon, lace’ (compare further the cognate, Bord), Old High German borto, ‘seam, trimming’ (whence Italian bordo, ‘border, frame,’ French bord).