An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Wurzel

by Friedrich Kluge

Wurzel, f., ‘root,’ from the equiv. MidHG. wurzel, OHG. wurzala, f.; corresponding to Du. wortel. The final l is not, as in Eichel, a diminut. suffix; OHG. wurzala is rather, according to the evidence of the equiv. AS. wyrtwalu, a compound, properly wurz-walu. In OHG. the medial w was lost, as in Bürger (OHG. burgârâ), equiv. to AS. burgware (comp. further OHG. eihhorn with âcweorn). Thus too Morchel, OHG. morhala, represents *morh-walu, ModHG. Geisel, OHG. geisala, represents *geis-walu. The second component is Goth. walus, ‘staff,’ AS. walu, ‘weal, knot’; hence AS. wyrtwalu and OHG. wurzala meant lit. ‘herb stick’ (from Wurz).