An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Grempelmarkt

by Friedrich Kluge

Grempelmarkt, masculine, ‘frippery, rag-fair,’ allied to Middle High German grempeler, ‘slop-seller, retailer,’ grempen, ‘to keep a retail shop, deal in second-hand goods’; the latter is akin to Italian comprare (with r transposed crompare), ‘to buy,’ compra, ‘purchase.’