An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Igel

by Friedrich Kluge

Igel, m., ‘hedgehog,’ from the equiv. MidHG. igel, OHG. igil, m.; corresponding to Du. egel, AS. igl (îl), in E., however, hedgehog, to which OIc. igull is equiv. Gr. ‘ἐχῖνος, OSlov. ježĭ, Lith. eżýs, ‘hedgehog,’ are undoubtedly cognate. A West-Aryan *eghî-nos, ‘hedgehog,’ must be assumed; comp. Goth. katils, from Lat. catînus, Goth. asilus, from Lat. asinus (so too Esel, Himmel, Kümmel, Kessel). Very different from this word is the second component of the compound Blutigel, prop. Blutegel; in MidHG. simply ëgel, ëgele, OHG. ëgala, f., ‘leech.’ That this OHG. ëgala is connected etymologically with OHG. igil, ‘hedgehog,’ is improbable on account of the meaning only.