An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Hälfte

by Friedrich Kluge

Hälfte, feminine, ‘half’ Modern High German simply, abstract of halb. Introduced by Luther into the literary language from Middle German and Low German (a strictly High German word would end in b instead of f; compare Old Saxon half, under halb); the Teutonic type is probably halƀiþa?. In Upper German Halbteil (16th century) is used.