An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Ferge

by Friedrich Kluge

Ferge, m., ‘ferryman,’ from MidHG. vęrge, vęrje, vęre, OHG. fęrjo, fęro (nom. sing. fęrjo, gen. and dat. fęrin, accus. fęrjun), m., ‘mariner, ferryman.’ The j is changed into g after r as in Scherge, Latwerge. Goth. *farja, m., ‘mariner,’ is wanting. Most closely allied to Fähre; also akin to Goth. farjan, ‘to navigate,’ see root far under fahren.