An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Zäh

by Friedrich Kluge

Zäh, adjective, ‘tough, viscous, obstinate,’ from the equivalent Middle High German zœhe, Old High German zâhi, adjective; corresponding to Dutch taai, Anglo-Saxon tôh, English tough; Gothic *tâhu (from *tanhu-) has to be assumed. With the Teutonic root tanh, ‘to hold firmly together,’ are also connected Anglo-Saxon getęnge, ‘close to, oppressing,’ and Old Saxon bitęngi, ‘pressing.’ Zange appears on account of its meaning to belong to a different root.