An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/prasseln

by Friedrich Kluge

prasseln, verb, ‘to crackle, rustle,’ from the equivalent Middle High German prasteln, brasteln, Old High German *brastalôn; compare the equivalent Anglo-Saxon brastlian. These words are connected, like Middle High German brasten, Old High German brastôn, ‘to crack,’ with the Old High German strong verb brëstan, Middle High German brësten, ‘to break.’