An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/kauderwelsch

by Friedrich Kluge

kauderwelsch, adj., ‘jargon,’ first occurs in early ModHG. allied to an unexplained vb. kaudern, ‘to talk unintelligibly,’ hence ‘strange, unintelligible foreign tongue.’ It seems to have been a Swiss word orig. and allied to Suab. and Swiss kauder, chûder, ‘tow’; or should it be churwelsch?