Zunft

Meaning

1. guild, especially of craftsmen
2. all of those who practice some craft or (humorous) any profession

Concepts

guild

guilds

company

confraternity

union

association

confrerie

companionship

Synonyms

Innung

Gilde

Körperschaft

Korporation

Amt

Gewerk

Gewerkschaft

Lehrerverband

Brüderlichkeit

Brüderschaft

Genossenschaft

genossenschaftlich

Dialects

Basel-Landschaft

zumft

Basel-Landschaft

zumpft

Data provided by: Deutsch-Schweizerdeutsches Wörterbuch

Pronounced as (IPA)

/t͡sʊnft/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle High German: zunft

Inherited from Old High German: zumft

In summary

From Middle High German zunft, Old High German zumft, from Proto-Germanic *tumþiz (“guild”).
Historically, the predominant word for “guild” was Gilde in Low German, Innung in Central German, and Zunft in Upper German. In contemporary standard German, the predominant use is Gilde for historic merchant guilds, Zunft for historic craftsmen guilds, and Innung for modern interest groups of craftspeople.