An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/kraus

by Friedrich Kluge

kraus, adjective, ‘frizzled,’ from Middle High German krûs, ‘curled, frizzled’; unknown to all the Old Teutonic languages; retained in Middle Dutch kruis, Modern Dutch kroes, ‘dishevelled, entangled, frizzled, stubborn’; Middle English crûs, ‘frizzled, angry.’ The genuine Teutonic origin and great antiquity of kraus are certified by the equivalent parallel cognates, Middle High German krol (ll), ‘curly, lock of hair,’ Dutch krul, ‘lock,’ krullig, ‘frizzled, curly,’ Middle English crul, ‘curly.’ Compare Krolle.