An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Zettel

by Friedrich Kluge

Zettel, m., from the equiv. late MidHG. zettel, m., ‘design or warp of a fabric’; allied to MidHG. and OHG. zetten, ‘to scatter, spread out,’ whence ModHG. verzetteln, ‘to disperse, spill.’ The early history of the root tad, seldom occurring in OTeut., is obscure. — Zettel, m., ‘note, ticket, playbill, placard,’ from MidHG. zedele (zetele, zettele), ‘sheet of paper,’ is different from the preceding word. It is formed from Ital. cedola (Fr. céndle), ‘ticket,’ MidLat. scedula (Gr. σχέδη), ‘scrap of paper.’