An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Fliege

by Friedrich Kluge

Fliege, f., ‘fly, fluke (of an anchor),’ from the equiv. MidHG. fliege, OHG. flioga, f.; comp. Du. vlieg, AS. fleóge, equiv. to E. fly, which is based upon AS. flŷge, OHG. fliuga, MidHG. fliuge, ‘fly’; hence a mutated form (Goth. *fliugjô), besides an unmutated Goth. *fliugô; in OIc. with a different gradation fluga, f., ‘fly, moth’; akin to fliegen (Goth. *fliugan). For an older term for ‘fly’ see under Mücke.