An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/bohren

by Friedrich Kluge

bohren, vb., ‘to bore, pierce,’ from the equiv. MidHG. born, OHG. borôn; comp. the corresponding Du. boren, AS. borian, E. to bore (and bore, ‘hole made by boring’); Goth. *baúrôn. The prim. Teut. bŏrôn, ‘to bore,’ is primit. cognate with Lat. forare, ‘to bore,’ Gr. φαράω, ‘I plough’; Sans. bhurij, ‘scissors,’ belongs to the same root, and in Ir. there is a verbal root berr, from bherj, meaning ‘to shear.’ The primary meaning of this root bhar, which differs from that appearing in Geburt and Lat. fero, Gr. φέρω was probably ‘to fashion with a sharp instrument.’ Comp. ModHG. dial. Bohrer, ‘woodlouse,’ E. bore.