An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/gering
gering, adjective, ‘petty, trifling,’ properly ‘insignificant, easy,’ from Middle High German geringe, ‘light and quick, nimble,’ ringe, ‘easy, light, convenient, insignificant, slight, small,’ Old High German ringi, giringi, ‘light’; a specifically German adjective, wanting in the other Teutonic dialects; origin obscure. The development of meaning from ‘light’ to ‘slight’ through the medium of ‘easy’ is similar to that of klein.