An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Geweih

by Friedrich Kluge

Geweih, n., ‘horns, antlers,’ from the equiv. MidHG. gewîge (hirzgewîge), n.; in OHG. the corresponding word is wanting; comp. Du. gewicht, n., ‘stag's antlers,’ whence a G. variant Gewicht. The cognates have most frequently been connected with the OTeut. root wī̆g, ‘to fight’ (see Weigand); Geweih would then be regarded as the weapon of the stag.