An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Werft

by Friedrich Kluge

Werft (1.), masculine, ‘woof,’ from Middle High German and Old High German warf, neuter (compare Modern High German Hüfte from Middle High German huf), ‘warp, yarn, or thread for the warp.’ Corresponding to the equivalent Anglo-Saxon wearp, English warp, Old Icelandic varp, which are usually derived from the verb werfen. Lithuanian verpti, ‘to spin,’ is perhaps derived from the German word.

Werft (2.), £. and neuter, ‘wharf,’ Modern High German only; borrowed from Low German, like many nautical expressions; compare Dutch werf (scheepstimmerwerf), English wharf, and the equivalent Swedish varf. The word cannot, on account of the consonants, be connected with werfen. The cognates signify literally ‘work-place,’ and are related to the verbal root of werben (which see).