Belfry: Protecting Peace In Germanic Languages, a Daily Dose of Peace
A Daily Dose of Peace. Each week, I focus on Love, Joy, and Peace in the world languages. January’s third week focuses on Germany in Europe.
A Peaceful Belfry
In English etymology or word origins
“belfry” is a watch-tower
now corrupted
only used for a bell tower
From Middle English “berfray”
and Old French “berfroit, berfreit, belefreit”
Middle High German “berefrit”
or “berchfrir” a watch tower
“berc” means protection
or “bergen” to protect
Middle High German “frit” or “frid” peace
and Old High German “fridu”
or the German “friede”
a place of security
Old High German “frí”
a cognate or word that means a similar thing
to the English “free”
Modern German “friede” means only peace
but Old High German “fridu”
also meant a place of security and a tower
“berefrit” means a watchtower or guard tower
first applied to the towers on wheels
much used in sieges of town
Originally Published in Peace Poetry Dictionary, The Meaning of Peace and Calm in 5000 Languages on January 15, 2021.
