An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Elster

by Friedrich Kluge

Elster, f. (in Swiss œgeršt, on the Mid-Rhine atzel, Suab. hätz and kœ̂gerš), ‘magpie,’ from the equiv. MidHG. egelster, agelster, aglaster, OHG. aglastra, f.; corresponding to OLG. agastria, LG. âgster, Du. ekster, aakster, ‘magpie.’ Its origin is altogether dubious; -striôn seems here, as sometimes in other cases, to be a fem. suffix. The meaning of the base ag-ul- may have already been ‘magpie,’ as is indicated by OHG. agazza, ‘magpie’ (hence ModHG. atzel for agze-l; comp. Blitz, Lenz, Runzel), AS. agu, ‘magpie.’ From the OTeut. (type *agatja), Ital. gazza, and Fr. agace, are derived.