An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Weiher

by Friedrich Kluge

Weiher, m., ‘fish-pond,’ from the equiv. MidHG. wîwer, wîwœre, OHG. wîwâri, wîâri, m. (OHG. also ‘stable’); corresponding to OLG. wîweri. Borrowed in the pre-OHG., probably in the Roman period, from Lat. vîvârium, ‘park, preserve, fish-pond’; corresponding to Fr. vivier (Du. vijver), Ital. vivajo, ‘fish-pond.’ Comp. also Weiler.