An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Wanst

by Friedrich Kluge

Wanst, masculine, ‘paunch, belly,’ from the equivalent Middle High German wanst (węnst), Old High German wanast (węnist), masculine. A specifically High German word, which, however, like most of the names for parts of the body (compare Fuß, Herz, and Niere), is genuine Aryan. It is probably connected with Latin venter, ‘belly,’ but more nearly with Sanscrit vastí, ‘bladder,’ and vanišṭhú, ‘entrails.’