An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/hurtig

by Friedrich Kluge

hurtig, adj., ‘quick, prompt, speedy,’ from MidHG. hurtec, hurteclîch, ‘quick,’ prop. ‘dashing violently against’; Mid. hurt, m. and f., ‘coming into violent collision, impact,’ is said to be borrowed from Fr. heurt (Ital. urto), ‘thrust,’ which again is derived from Kelt. hwrdh, ‘thrust.’ Yet hurtig may be regarded as a genuine Teut. word, allied to OHG. rado, AS. hrœd, ‘quick,’ with which OIc. horskr, ‘quick,’ is also connected.