An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Felge

by Friedrich Kluge

Felge, f., ‘felly (of a wheel),’ from MidHG. vëlge, OHG. fëlga, f., ‘rim of a wheel, tyre,’ OHG. also ‘harrow, roller for breaking clods’; comp. Du. radvelge, ‘felloe,’ AS. fëlg, E. felly (rim, fellow). Is OHG. felga, ‘roller, harrow,’ to be connected with AS. *fealge (MidE. falge, ‘fallow land’), E. fallow, and its e to be regarded therefore as formed by mutation? MidHG. valgen, ‘to plough up, dig,’ makes such a supposition very probable. It is possible that the two classes in the sense of ‘felloe’ and ‘barrow’ are not allied to each other. Between OHG. fëlga and AS. felga, ‘felloe,’ there is no connecting link.