An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Geige

by Friedrich Kluge

Geige, f., ‘fiddle, violin,’ from the equiv. early MidHG. gîge, f.; corresponding to MidDu. ghighe, OIc. gígja; in OHG. fidula, E. fiddle; see Fiedel. The Teut. word, like Harfe, found its way into Rom.; comp. Ital. giga, Fr. gigue (whence further E. jig). There is no suspicion that MidHG. gîge was borrowed; it is, however, scarcely allied primit. (pre-Teut. ghîkă) to OSlov. žica, ‘thread’ (akin to Lith. gijá, ‘thread’?).