An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Rolle

by Friedrich Kluge

Rolle, feminine, ‘roll, roller, pulley, scroll, actor's part,’ from Middle High German rolle, rulle, feminine, ‘rotulus,’ also rodel, rottel, masculine and feminine, ‘scroll, list, document’; formed from Middle Latin rotulus, rotula, or rather the corresponding Romance cognates. Compare Italian rotolo, rullo, French rôle; whence also English to roll, Middle High German and Modern High German rollen, French rouler, Italian rullare.