An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Schaufel

by Friedrich Kluge

Schaufel, f., ‘shovel,’ from the equiv. MidHG. schûvel, OHG. scûvala, f., pointing to Goth. *skûfla (skûbla). The forms of the other Teut. languages point to Goth. *skŭbla, f.; comp. Du. schoffel, f., ‘shovel,’ AS. sčęofl, f., E. shovel. Allied to the root skûb (skûf?) in schieben; hence Schaufel is lit. ‘a tool on which something is put to be thrown away.’ For the change of ŭ to û comp. Sohn and laut.