An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Filz

by Friedrich Kluge

Filz, m., ‘felt, blanket; miser; reprimand,’ from the equiv. MidHG. vilz, OHG. filz, m.; comp. Du. vilt, AS. and E. felt, Swed. and Dan. filt, ‘felt’ (Goth. *filtis, pre-Teut. *peldos, n.). Lat. pilus, pileus, Gr. πῖλος, are scarcely allied; it is more probably connected with OSlov. plŭstĭ, ‘felt.’ From the Teut. word are derived the similarly sounding Romance words, Ital. feltro, Fr. feutre, MidLat. filtrum, ‘felt.’ Other words also relating to weaving were introduced into Romance from Teut. See Haspe, Rocken.