An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Käfer

by Friedrich Kluge

Käfer, masculine, ‘beetle, chafer,’ from the equivalent. Middle High German këver, këfere, Old High German chëvar, chëvaro, masculine; compare Anglo-Saxon čeafor, English chafer, Dutch kever, masculine. The Gothic term was probably *kifra, or following Anglo-Saxon ceafor, *kafrus also (compare Low German kavel). The name, which has the same import in all the dialects at their different periods, signifies ‘gnawing animal’ (compare Middle High German kifen, kiffen, ‘to gnaw, chew,’ Middle High German kiffel under Kiefer), or ‘husk animal,’ from Old High German chëva, ‘husk,’ Middle High German kaf, English chaff (Anglo-Saxon čeaf).