An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Bengel

by Friedrich Kluge

Bengel, m., ‘cudgel,’ then in a figurative sense ‘rude person, blackguard,’ from MidHG. bengel, m., ‘cudgel.’ Comp. E. bangle (club), from the verb to bang, OIc. banga, ‘to strike, beat,’ LG. bangen. The Teut. stem bang-, ‘to strike,’ seems to have been nasalised from the root bâg, mentioned under baren.