An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/drillen

by Friedrich Kluge

drillen, vb., ‘to revolve, bore, drill,’ from MidHG. drillen, ‘to turn, make round’ (with the partic. gedrollen, ‘round’). The meaning ‘to bore’ comes from LG. drillen (see drehen, drechseln, for the connecting link between the meanings), akin to Du. drillen, E. to thrill, and also LG. drall (MidDu. drel), ‘round, turning,’ which is formed by gradation. The nates point to a Teut. root þrel, ‘to turn on a lathe). — drillen, ‘to plague’ or ‘to drill (recruits),’ may be derived from the first or the second meaning.