An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Drossel

by Friedrich Kluge

Drossel (1.), f., ‘thrush,’ a LG. form from MidLG. drosle, OSax. throssela, throsla; the strictly UpG. term for Drossel is Bav. Drôschel, from MidHG. drôschel, f.; comp. OHG. drôscela, f., also without the deriv. l, drôsca, drôscea, f.; the latter form corresponds to AS. þrŷsce (from *þrauskiô), E. thrush. E. throstle, from AS. þrostle, ‘merula,’ corresponds to MidHG. drostel; in Goth. the latter would be *þrustla and the former þrauska (or rather *þrauskjô); akin to Gr. τρυγών, ‘turtle-dove,’ from *τρυσγών?.