Etymology

From Middle High German geræte ‎(“consultation; equipment”), from Old High German girāti ‎(“advice, consultation”), derived from rāt ‎(“advice, council”), whence modern German Rat. The semantic development can, theoretically, be explained internally through a path “consultation” → “precaution” → “equipment”. However, the word has without doubt been influenced by another term, at hand in Old High German gireiti ‎(“stuff, equipment”), which is related with bereit ‎(“ready”). Both became homophonous in many Low and Central German dialects; compare Middle Low German gerēde ‎(“consultation; equipment”), which can be cognate with either Old High German word. The Middle High German sources show that the sense “equipment” did indeed spread from the north. Compare Dutch gerei and gereedschap.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɡəˈʁɛːt/, [ɡəˈʁɛːt] (standard; used naturally in western Germany and Switzerland)
• IPA^(key): /ɡəˈʁeːt/ (overall more common; chiefly northern and eastern regions)
• Rhymes: -ɛːt
• Homophone: gerät