An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Jünger

by Friedrich Kluge

Jünger m., ‘disciple,’ prop. the compar. of jung, used as a subst.; comp. MidHG. jünger, OHG. jungiro, ‘disciple, pupil, apprentice’; the word (as the antithesis to Herr, OHG. hêrro) is probably derived from the OTeut. feudal system. —