An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Karg

by Friedrich Kluge

Karg, adj., ‘sparing, niggardly,’ from MidHG. karc (g), ‘prudent, cunning, sly, stingy’; in OHG. charag, ‘sad’; a derivative of the OTeut. kara, ‘care,’ discussed under Karfreitag. From the primary meaning ‘anxious,’ the three significations ‘sad,’ ‘frugal,’ and ‘cunning’ might be derived; comp. AS. čearig, ‘sad,’ and E. chary, allied to E. care. The syncope of the vowel in MidHG. karc compared with OHG. charag is normal after r.