An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Kunst

by Friedrich Kluge

Kunst, feminine, ‘skill, art, address,’ from Middle High German and Old High German kunst, feminine, ‘knowledge, wisdom, skill, art’; compare Old Saxon cunsti, plural, ‘knowledge, wisdom,’ Dutch kunst; wanting in English and Gothic. A verbal abstract from können, like Kunft from kommen; s is a euphonic insertion before the dental; compare Brunst from brennen, Gunst from gönnen.