An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/rumpeln

by Friedrich Kluge

rumpeln, verb, ‘to rumble, rummage, throw into confusion,’ from Middle High German rumpeln, ‘to make a noise or din, fall with a clatter’; probably an intensive form on account of the p. Compare the equivalent Middle English romblen, English to rumble; allied to Dutch rommelen, ‘to make a noise,’ the mb being assimilated to mm; hence Rummel means ‘lumber.’