An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/schelten

by Friedrich Kluge

schelten, verb, ‘to reprove, revile,’ from Middle High German schëlten, Old High German scëltan, strong verb, ‘to reprove, abuse, insult’; compare Middle Low German and Dutch schelden, Old Frisian skelda, ‘to reprove.’ Akin to the cognates discussed under schalten; ‘to push’ is the primary meaning of schelten.