An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Speer

by Friedrich Kluge

Speer, m., ‘spear,’ from the equiv. MidHG. and OHG. spër, m.; common to Teut., with the corresponding terms, OIc. spjǫr, plur., ‘spear,’ AS. spëre, E. spear, Du. speer, OSax. spër (from Teut. spër is derived OFr. espier). It is uncertain how the word is connected with Lat. sparus, ‘hunting-spear’; it may be cognate, or the two languages may have borrowed it from a third. Its relation to Sparren and Sporn is doubtful.