An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/rotten

by Friedrich Kluge

rotten (1.), vb., ‘to root out,’ formed from the earlier MidG. roten, a variant of MidHG. riuten, ‘to root out’; comp. Bav. rieden, Swiss ussrū̆de, ‘to root out.’

rotten (2.), vb., ‘to cause to rot or decay, ModHG. only, from the equiv. LG. and Du. rotten; see rösten (2).