An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/saufen

by Friedrich Kluge

saufen, vb., ‘to drink’ (of beasts), from MidHG. sûfen, OHG. sûfan, ‘to sip, lap, drink’; MidLG. sûpen, AS. sûpan, and OIc. súpa have the same sense; comp. further Du. zuipen, ‘to drink,’ E. to sup (the verb to sip seems to be connected with Goth. *sŭpjan). For the Teut. root sū̆p, which has not yet been found in other groups, see Soff and Suppe; comp. further seufzen.