An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/fühlen

by Friedrich Kluge

fühlen, vb., ‘to feel, be sensible of, be sensitive to,’ a MidG. and LG. word incorporated in literary Ger. since Luther's time (in Suab. and Alem. spüren and merken, and in Bav. empfinden are need); from the equiv. MidHG. vüelen, OHG. fuolen (OHG. also ‘to touch’); comp. OSax. gifôlian, Du. voelen, AS. fêlan, E. to feel; a common West Teut. word for ‘to feel’ (Goth. *fôljan). Akin to OIc. falma, to grope.’ With the Teut. root fôl, fal, an old term for ‘hand’ is connected; OSax. folm, AS. folm, OHG. folma, ‘hand’ (primit. allied to Sans. pâṇ, Gr. παλάμη, Lat. palma, OIr. lám for *plâma).