An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Trug

by Friedrich Kluge

Trug, masculine, ‘deception, illusion,’ Modern High German only, allied to trügen, older triegen, which is derived from the equivalent Middle High German triegen, Old High German triogan, strong verb, corresponding to Old Saxon bidriogan, ‘to cheat, deceive.’ To these are allied Teutonic draumo-, ‘phantom’ (see Traum), as well as Old Icelandic draugr, ‘ghost,’ Old Saxon gidrog, Middle High German getroc (g), ‘ghost’ (compare also Zwerg). The Teutonic root drū̆g (dwerg), ‘to deceive,’ contained in these words, is based on an Aryan root dhrū̆gh (dhwergh), ‘to overreach, injure’; compare Sanscrit druh, ‘to injure (by deceit, craftiness, or enchantment),’ Old Persian drauga, ‘lie,’ Zend draoga, ‘lying’ (druj, ‘ghost’).