An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Hexe

by Friedrich Kluge

Hexe, f., ‘witch, hag, sorceress,’ from MidHG. hęcse, f., OHG. hagzissa, hagazussa, hagzus (also hâzus, hâzissa), f., a gloss for furia, striga, eumenis, erinnys; comp. MidDu. haghetisse, ModDu. heks, AS. hœgtesse, f., E. (with the rejection of the apparent termination) hag. The word, which is doubtlessly a compound, has not yet been satisfactorily explained; OHG. hag, AS. hœg, ‘hedge, wood,’ as the first component, seems indubitable. The second part has not been elucidated; some suppose that the prim. meaning of Hexe is ‘forest woman or demon’?. Comp. OHG. holzmuoja, MidHG. holzmuoje, f., ‘forest woman, witch’ (also ‘wood-owl’).