An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Assel

by Friedrich Kluge

Assel, m., espec. Kellerassel, ‘woodlouse,’ ModHG. only; generally derived from Lat. asellus, ‘little ass,’ and might have been named from its grey colour; comp. Gr. ὄνος, ὀνίσκος, ‘ass, woodlouse,’ Ital. asello, ‘woodlouse.’ Yet the ss the ModHG. word, as well as the dialectic variant atzel, might militate against this derivation; hence a pre-Teut. stem at, att (allied to essen?) seems to be at the base of it. Comp. also Esel.