An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Gesinde

by Friedrich Kluge

Gesinde, neuter, ‘domestics, servants,’ from Middle High German gesinde, Old High German gisindi, neuter, ‘suite, followers in war’; collective of Middle High German gesint(d), Old High German gisind, ‘follower,’ literally ‘one who joins in a sind,’ from Old High German sind, masculine, ‘journey, expedition’; corresponding to Anglo-Saxon sîð, ‘journey,’ whence gesîð, ‘companion, fellow-traveller,’ Gothic sinþs, ‘journey’ (gasinþa, ‘fellow-traveller’). To the Old Teutonic sinþa- (from pre-Teutonic sénto-) corresponds Old Irish sét, ‘way.’ See senden and sinnen. — Modern High German Gesindel, ‘rabble, mob, vagabonds,’ diminutive of Gesinde, also used in a contemptuous sense, so even in late Middle High German gesindelœhe, gesindelach (with a collective suffix). —