An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Taumel

by Friedrich Kluge

Taumel, masculine, ‘reeling, staggering, frenzy,’ from Middle High German tū̆meln (tū̆men, tū̆melieren), ‘to reel, stagger,’ Old High German tûmalôn (tū̆môn), ‘to turn.’ From the Old High German and Middle High German variant with is derived tummeln (compare also Rohrdommel). The Teutonic root dû contained in these words leads to kinship with the Sanscrit root dhû, ‘to storm along, put in violent motion, shake.’