An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Öhr

by Friedrich Kluge

Öhr, n., ‘eye’ (of a needle), from MidHG. œre, œr, n., ‘ear-like opening, eye (of a needle), hole in a handle, handle,’ so too late OHG. ôri, n.; a derivative of OHG. ôra, ‘ear’; comp. further Öse. Moreover, Gr. οὖς, E. ear, and Du. oor also signify ‘handle.’