An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Plage

by Friedrich Kluge

Plage, feminine, ‘plague, calamity,’ from Middle High German plâge, Old High German plâga, feminine, ‘divine punishment’; adopted on the introduction of Christianity during the Old High German period (compare Pein) from Latin plâga, ‘blow, thrust.’ From the same source the Romance cognates, Italian piaga, French plaie, ‘wound’ (English plague), are derived.