An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Tanz
Tanz, masculine, ‘dance, ball,’ from the equivalent Middle High German tanz, masculine, to which Middle High German and Modern High German tanzen is allied. The word was first adopted in the 11th century. In Old High German the verbs were salzôn (which, like Anglo-Saxon sealtian, was borrowed at an early period from Latin saltâre), and the genuine Teutonic tûmôn and leihhan (compare Leich). The late appearance of Middle High German tanzen tends to show that it is a loan-word; it is based on the equivalent. Romance cognates, Italian danzare (French danser, whence English to dance, and Dutch dansen). It is true that, considering the late period at which it was borrowed, the High German t compared to Italian d is abnormal. The Romance cognates are themselves of Teutonic origin, which has been sought in Old High German dansôn, ‘to draw’ (allied to Gothic þinsan; see gedunsen).