An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Kauz

by Friedrich Kluge

Kauz, m., ‘screech-owl,’ from the equiv. MidHG. kûtze, kûtz, m. (rarely occurs); in OHG. as well as in the other OTeut. dials. the word is wanting, therefore it is difficult to determine its Goth. form. We might assume Goth. *kutts or *kûdna; the first partly suggests Gr. βῦζα, ‘owl’ (for gûdja? β as in βαίνα, ‘to go,’ βύσσος, ‘fine flax, equiv. to ModHG. Kaute). Moreover, ModHG. pet names for birds are formed ending in tz, Spatz, Stieglitz, Kiebitz; hence Kau-ze may have to be divided, and thus Gr. βύας, ‘owl,’ would be most closely connected with Teut. kau, kû.