An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Kürschner

by Friedrich Kluge

Kürschner, m., ‘furrier,’ from the equiv. MidHG. kursenœ̂re, m. (sch from s, as in Arsch, birschen, and Hirsch), a derivative of MidHG. kürsen, f., ‘fur coat,’ OHG. chursinna, chrusina, AS. crûsne, ‘fur coat’; MidLat. crusna, crusina, crusinna. Cognate terms also occur in Slav. (OSlov. krŭzno, Russ. korzno), in which, however, the word did not originate any more than it did in G., yet it may have been introduced into G. through a Slav. medium, perhaps from some Northern language. The prim. kinship of OHG. chursina with Gr. βύρσα, ‘hide, skin,’ is scarcely conceivable.