An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Bürge

by Friedrich Kluge

Bürge, m., ‘surety, bail,’ from the equiv. MidHG. bürge, OHG. burigo, m. We may assume a Goth *baúrgia, which would, however, be distinct from baúrgja, ‘citizen.’ OIc. á-byrgjast, ‘to become bail.’ Allied to borgen; the root is pre-Teut. bhergh, with the orig. sense ‘to take care of, heed.’