An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Senne

by Friedrich Kluge

Senne, masculine, ‘cowherd,’ Modern High German only, Middle High German *senne is not recorded, but in late Middle High German (rarely), sęnnœ̂re, ‘herdsman, cowherd.’ The antiquity of the Modern High German term is attested, however, by Old High German sęnno, masculine, ‘herdsman,’ as well as by late Middle High German sęnne, ‘pasture on the Alps.’ On account of the restriction of the cognates to Upper German the origin of the word is not quite certain; it is usually connected with Sahne (Gothic *sana, ‘cream,’ *sanja, ‘cowherd’).