An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Stadt

by Friedrich Kluge

Stadt, feminine, ‘city, town,’ from Middle High German stat, feminine, ‘place, situation, spot, locality, town,’ Old Low German stat, feminine, ‘place, spot.’ Prop. identical with Statt and Stätte (the meaning ‘town’ was first developed in the Middle High German period; the earlier term was Burg, Old High German and Middle High German burc, feminine). See Statt.