An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Schlegel

by Friedrich Kluge

Schlegel, masculine, ‘mallet, sledge-hammer, drumstick,’ from Middle High German slęgel, Old High German slęgil, masculine, ‘implement for beating, club, flail, hammer’; from the root slah, ‘to strike.’ Compare English sledge, Anglo-Saxon slęcǧe, feminine, ‘hammer,’ from the same root.