An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Span

by Friedrich Kluge

Span, m., ‘sharing, chip, splinter,’ from MidHG. and OHG. spân, m., ‘chip,’ Du. spaan, ‘chip, blade of an oar,’ AS. spôn, E. spoon, as well as OIc. spónn, spánn, ‘splinter of wood, spoon,’ attest the double sense of primit. Teut. spênu-, of whose early history, on account of the want of cognate terms in the non-Teut. languages, nothing can be definitely ascertained. The connection with Gr. σπά-θη, ‘spoon for stirring’ (see Spaten), is uncertain.