An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Kirchspiel

by Friedrich Kluge

Kirchspiel, n., ‘parish,’ from MidHG. kirchspil, also kirspel; the second part of the compound is instinctively connected with Menschenspiel, yet its origin has not been definitely ascertained; some have referred it to Goth. spill, n., ‘speech’ (comp. Beispiel), and have defined Kirchspiel as ‘the district within which the decision of a church is paramount.’ This assumption is not quite satisfactory, because no connecting link between Kirchenwort, ‘decision of the church,’ and Kirchspiel, ‘parish,’ can be discovered. Following the explanation of Pfarre, we should rather assume some such meaning as ‘district, enclosure, forbearance,’ which is supported by AS. spelian, ‘to spare, protect’; comp. AS. spela, ‘representative’?. —