An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/reuten
reuten, verb, ‘to root out, grub up, from Middle High German riuten, ‘to root out, make fertile’; to this is allied Old High German riuti, Middle High German riute, neuter, ‘land made fertile by uprooting,’ Old Icelandic ryðja, ‘to make fertile.’ Whether Old High German riostar, riostra, Middle High German riester, ‘plough, plough-handle,’ dialectic Riester, is connected with this word is uncertain. See roden.