An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Engerling

by Friedrich Kluge

Engerling, masculine, ‘grub of the cockchafer,’ from Middle High German ęngerlinc, Middle High German Old High German ęngerinc(g), masculine, ‘corn-weevil,’ a derivative of Old High German angar, angari, Middle High German anger, ęnger, ‘corn-weevil’; scarcely connected directly with enge. It is more probable that Lithuanian anksztiraí, ‘measles (of swine), cockchafer grubs,’ Polish węgry, ‘measles (of swine),’ are primitively cognates.