An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Pfühl

by Friedrich Kluge

Pfühl, m. and n., ‘bolster, pillow,’ from MidHG. pfülwe, n., OHG. pfuliwî, n. ‘feather cushion’; also OHG. pfulwo, MidHG. pfulwe, m.; borrowed at the beginning of our era, as is indicated by the invariable permutation of p to pf, and the retention of the Lat. v as w, from Lat. pulvînus (pulvînar), ‘pillow, cushion, bolster,’ probably contemporaneously with Flaum, Kissen, and Pips. Comp. AS. pyle, pylwe, E. pillow, Du. peuluw, ‘pillow.’ The early period at which the West Teut. form pulwîn was borrowed is attested by the fact that Lat. pulvînus is not preserved in the Rom. languages.