An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Hof

by Friedrich Kluge

Hof, m., ‘yard, courtyard, manor, court,’ from the equiv. MidHG. and OHG. hof (hoves), m.; comp. OSax. and Du. hof, m., AS. hof, n. (obsolete at the end of the AS. period); in West Teut. ‘courtyard, farm, garden (thus in Du. and OHG.), (prince's) palace,’ AS. also ‘circle, district, globe.’ OIc. hof, n. (the same gender as in AS.), ‘temple with a roof,’ later also (under G. influence) ‘palace, courtyard.’ Goth. *hufa-, m. and n., is curiously wanting. Since the cognates are based upon pre-Teut. kúpo, they cannot be allied to Gr. κῆπος, ‘garden,’ Lat. campus.