An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/kosten

by Friedrich Kluge

kosten (1.), verb, ‘to cost,’ from Middle High German kosten, ‘to come to, cost’; from Middle Latin and Romance costare (Latin constare); French coûter; see Kost (1) and (2); English to cost.

kosten (2.), verb, ‘to taste,’ from Middle High German ‘to scrutinise, test by tasting’; Old High German and Old Saxon costôn, Anglo-Saxon costian (wanting in English); a common Teutonic verb meaning ‘to put to the test, scrutinise, try.’ Kosten, like the Teutonic words mentioned under Kost (2), is connected with kiesen, and is identical in form with Latin gustâre, ‘to taste.’ Teutonic kus, pre-Teutonic gus, is the root. Compare kiesen.