An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Nestel

by Friedrich Kluge

Nestel, feminine and masculine, ‘lace,’ from Middle High German nęstel, feminine, Old High German nęstilo, masculine, nęstila, feminine,‘knot of ribbons, bow, lace (for stays, &c.), bandage’; allied to Middle Low German and Dutch nestel, ‘girdle, lace,’ Old Icelandic nist, niste, neuter, ‘stitching needle,’ and with further gradation Old High German nusta, feminine, ‘tying together,’ as well as nuska, Middle High German nüsche, ‘clasp of a cloak’ If st and sk in these words be regarded as a part of the derivative, they may be compared with Latin necto, ‘to join’ (and the Sanscrit root nah, ‘to connect’?). Old High German nęstilo (Gothic *nastila) has also been connected with Latin nôdus (for *nozdus, like nîdus from *nizdus; see Nest). The form *nastila passed into Romance; compare Italian nastro, ‘silk ribbon.’