An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Dampf

by Friedrich Kluge

Dampf, masculine, ‘vapour, steam,’ from Middle High German dampf, tampf, masculine, ‘vapour, smoke’; tampf seems to have been the strictly High German form; allied to the equivalent Old Icelandic dampe, English and Dutch damp, ‘moisture’; not recorded in the earlier, periods. Formed by gradation from a strong verb — Middle High German dimpfen, ‘to fume, smoke,’ which has disappeared in Modern High German; its factitive, however, still exists — dämpfen, Middle High German dempfen, original sense, ‘to cause to smoke,’ i.e, ‘to stifle (a fire).’ See also dumpf; dunkel may also be allied to it.