An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Runge

by Friedrich Kluge

Runge, feminine, ‘rung; bolt, pin; trigger,’ from Middle High German and Middle Low German runge, feminine, ‘drag-shoe’; Old High German *runga, older *hrunga, feminine, are by chance not recorded; compare Gothic hrugga, feminine, ‘staff,’ Anglo-Saxon hrung, English rung. The primary sense is probably ‘spar,’ therefore the connection with Modern High German Ring is doubtful.