An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/nergeln

by Friedrich Kluge

nergeln, nörgeln, verb, ‘to grumble, growl,’ Modern High German only, of obscure origin; in Bavarian the verb signifies ‘to speak indistinctly’ (especially in a guttural fashion or through the nose). Allied perhaps to Dutch nurken, ‘to grumble, growl’?.