An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Kräusel

by Friedrich Kluge

Kräusel, masculine, ‘top,’ with the more frequent variant Kreisel, a corrupt form which arose from connecting Kräusel with the circular (kreisförmig) movement of a top; Middle High German *kriusel, Middle German krûsel, masculine, ‘top,’ a diminutive of Krause, hence literally ‘small pitcher.’ Compare the Upper German term Topf for ‘top.’