An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Murmeltier

by Friedrich Kluge

Murmeltier, neuter, ‘marmot,’ corrupted in late Middle High German from Middle High German mürmendîn, neuter, Old High German murmuntî, neuter, ‘marmot’ (Old High German variant muremunto, masculine). The ultimate source of the word is Latin murem montis (mus montis, mus montanus), whence also the corresponding Italian marmotta, French marmotte. The Old High German form murmuntî is extended by a diminutive suffix.