An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Brille

by Friedrich Kluge

Brille, f., ‘spectacles,’ from late MidHG. barille, berille, brille, ‘spectacles’ (Du. bril); properly the gem Lat.-Gr. beryllus (the syncope of the unaccented e is amply attested by bange, bleiben, glauben, &c.); comp. Beryll.