An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/kriegen

by Friedrich Kluge

kriegen, verb, ‘to get,’ from Middle High German kriegen (in Middle German krîgen is strong, so too the corresponding verb in Low German and Dutch), ‘to exert oneself, strive, aim at, oppose, struggle,’ then also ‘to defend, maintain an opinion,’ Middle German also ‘to obtain, receive’; the latter meaning is Low German and Dutch (krijgen, ‘to obtain, receive’). With regard to the numerous meanings compare Old High German winnan, ‘to exert oneself, struggle,’ giwinnan, ‘to win.’ Hence the various senses of the verb are the outcome of a primary meaning ‘to make an effort against,’ just as in the case of the noun Krieg, on which it is based.