An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/gering

by Friedrich Kluge

gering, adjective, ‘petty, trifling,’ properly ‘insignificant, easy,’ from Middle High German geringe, ‘light and quick, nimble,’ ringe, ‘easy, light, convenient, insignificant, slight, small,’ Old High German ringi, giringi, ‘light’; a specifically German adjective, wanting in the other Teutonic dialects; origin obscure. The development of meaning from ‘light’ to ‘slight’ through the medium of ‘easy’ is similar to that of klein.