An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/zausen

by Friedrich Kluge

zausen, verb, ‘to tease (wool, &c.), tug, pull about,’ from Middle High German and Old High German erzûsen, Old High German zirzûsôn, weak verb; compare Middle High German zûsach, ‘brambles.’ Apart from High German the Teutonic root tū̆s (Aryan dū̆s), ‘to tear to pieces,’ does not occur; the comparison with Latin dûmus (from *dū̆smus?), ‘bramble,’ is uncertain.