An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Herberge

by Friedrich Kluge

Herberge, feminine (with ĕ as in Herzog, allied to Heer), ‘shelter, quarters, inn,’ from Middle High German hęrbërge, feminine; literally ‘a sheltering place for the army’ (rare in Middle High German), most frequently ‘lodging-house for strangers,’ also ‘dwelling’ generally. Old High German hęri-bërga, ‘camp, castra,’ then also ‘hospitium, tabernaculum.’ Middle English hereberge, ‘hospitium,’ English harbour; Scandinavian herberge, neuter, ‘inn, lodging, room, chamber.’ The compound, in its later form, seems to have been adopted from German by the other Teutonic languages, and also by Romance; French auberge, Italian albergo; Old French preserves the older meaning ‘camp.’ Compare Herr, bergen.