An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/zögern

by Friedrich Kluge

zögern, verb, ‘to linger, loiter, defer,’ Modern High German only, a derivative of Middle High German zogen, Old High German zogôn, ‘to tug, draw, go, defer, retard.’ An intensive form of ziehen; compare Old Icelandic toga, English to tug. For the development of meaning compare further Modern High German dialectic zögern, ‘to wander aimlessly.’