An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Strähle

by Friedrich Kluge

Strähle, f., ‘comb,’ from the equiv. MidHG. strœl, m., to which ModHG. and MidHG. strœlen, ‘to comb,’ is allied; the equiv. OHG. vb. strâlen (*strâllen, *stralian) presumes also for OHG. a subst. strâl, meaning ‘comb.’ It is not improbable that the separate teeth of the comb were regarded as arrows, rays.