An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Krahn

by Friedrich Kluge

Krahn, m., ‘crane’ (machine), ModHG. only, formed from LG. and Du.; prop. identical with Kranich, of which it is a shorter form; see Kranich. Gr. γέρανος also means ‘crane’; comp. too Lat. aries, HG. Bock, as well as Lat. grus, as terms for machines.