An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Vogt

by Friedrich Kluge

Vogt, masculine, ‘overseer, steward, bailiff,’ from Middle High German vogt, voget, Old High German fógat (*fogā́t), masculine; from Middle Latin vocâtus, with the pronunciation of the Latin v like f, as in Vers, Vesper (compare Käfig). The Middle Latin term is for advocatus (whence Old High German pfogát); compare French avoué, ‘defender of a church or abbey, attorney.’ Middle Latin advocatus signified literally ‘legal assistant,’ whence the meanings ‘guardian’ (Middle High German and Modern High German dialectic) and ‘patron, protector.’ Middle High German voget denotes also ‘the protector of the Romish Church, King or Emperor of Rome, king and ruler (generally),’ and further ‘governor, legal official.’