An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Flegel

by Friedrich Kluge

Flegel, masculine (Suabian Pflegel), ‘flail, churl,’ from Middle High German vlęgel, Old High German flęgil, masculine, ‘flail’; compare Dutch vlegel, English flail; probably from Middle Latin flagellum, ‘quo frumentum teritur’ (whence also French fleau, ‘flail’). On account of its meaning it cannot be connected with the Teutonic root flah, ‘to flay’ (Old Icelandic flá, ‘to flay’). Yet it may be primitively allied to Lithuanian plakù, plàkti, ‘to strike,’ Latin plango, Greek πλήγνυμι, ‘to strike.’