An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Achsel

by Friedrich Kluge

Achsel, f., ‘shoulder,’ from the equiv. MidHG. ahsel, OHG. ahsala, f.; comp. AS. eaxl, OIc. ǫxl, f., ‘shoulder'; Goth. *ahsla, f., is wanting. It is probable that the Teut. word is connected with the O. Aryan Achse; Lat. axilla (Olr. oxal), ‘arm-pit,’ and âla, ‘arm-pit, wing,’ are also cognate with it. In OTeut., Goth. *ahsla (Aryan *akslâ) has a still wider family, since forms with Teut. ô, Aryan â in the stem belong to it; comp. AS. ôxn, ôcusla, ‘arm-pit,’ and OHG. wohsana, MidHG. üehse, wohse, f., ‘arm-pit,'Du. oksel,’ shoulder.’