An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Huf

by Friedrich Kluge

Huf, m., from the equiv. MidHG. and OHG. huof (gen. huoves), m., ‘hoof’; comp. OSax. hôf, m., AS. hôf, E. hoof, Du. hoef, OIc. hófr. Goth. *hofs, m., ‘hoof,’ is by chance not recorded. Teut. hôfa-, from pre-Teut. *kôpo-, to which is allied OSlov. kopyto, n., ‘hoof’ (akin to kopati, ‘to dig’); others derive hôfa- from pre-Teut. kôpho- and compare it with OInd. çaphá, Zend saƒa, ‘hoof.’ Compared with both these explanations, the derivation of Huf from heben must be rejected.