The origin of the name is unclear, though it is believed that it was derived from the name of Saint Vitus, who is often depicted with a feather.
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In their Deutsches Wörterbuch, the Brothers Grimm hold it plausible that it derives from the custom of pinning feathers to one's hat or lance, but the coat of arms accorded to the brotherhood by Rudolf II displays two arms each holding a quill (schreibfeder), inducing the Grimms to speculate that the brotherhood may merely have originated as the fencing guild of the professional scribes.