An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Wanze

by Friedrich Kluge

Wanze, feminine, ‘bug,’ from the equivalent Middle High German wanze, feminine. The word first appeared in the 13th century; in Middle High German and Old High German the term wantlûs, ‘house-bug,’ is used in the same sense; probably Wanze is an abbreviation of the latter (compare Spatz with Sperling). For the meaning compare Czech stěnice, ‘bug,’ from stěna, ‘wall.’