An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Waffe

by Friedrich Kluge

Waffe, f., ‘weapon,’ from the equiv. MidHG. waffen, wâfen, OHG. waffan, wâfan, n., ‘weapon, sword, armour’; corresponding to Goth. wépna, n. plur., ‘weapons,’ AS. wœ̂pn, E. weapon, Du. wapen. Comp. also Wappen. Teut. wêpno- (wapono-) assumes a Teut. wêbono- (wobono-); its connection with the equiv. Gr. ὅπλον (lit. ‘utensil’) is conceivable by assuming a double root, wop, wob. Whether this root is identical with the Sans. root vap, ‘to scatter, sow,’ in which case ‘missile’ would be the primary meaning of Waffe, is uncertain.