An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Teer

by Friedrich Kluge

Teer, m. and n., ‘tar,’ early ModHG. only, a LG. word (unknown to Swab. and Bav.); comp. Du. teer, AS. teoro (tyrwe), E. tar, and the equiv. OIc. tjara (to which OIc. tyrviðr, ‘pine-wood,’ is allied). The HG. form Zehr is recorded in the ModHG. period in Hess. These cognates meaning ‘tar’ are old derivatives of a Teut. word trewo-, ‘tree’ (comp. Goth. triu, E. tree), which is based upon Aryan derw-, dorw- (dru), ‘tree, wood’; comp. Gr. δρῦς, ‘oak’ (δόρυ, ‘spear’), OSlov. drěvo, ‘tree, wood,’ and the equiv. Sans. dâru (dru); see also Trog. Teer means lit. ‘the thick oil from trees’ (especially from resinous pine-trees?); comp. Lith. darvà, ‘‘pine-wood,’ and Lett. darwa, ‘tar.’