An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Weihe

by Friedrich Kluge

Weihe, feminine (Weih, masculine), ‘kite,’ from the equivalent Middle High German wîe, Old High German wîe (wîjo), masculine; a specifically High German word (compare Dutch wouw?), Connected with the root wī̆, ‘to chase,’ mentioned under Weide (2)?. In that case Weih would mean literally ‘hunter, sportsman.’