An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Mahr

by Friedrich Kluge

Mahr, m., from the equiv. MidHG. mar, mare, m. and f., ‘incubus, nightmare,’ OHG. mara, f.; comp. AS. mara, m., E. mare in nightmare, OIc. mara, f., ‘incubus.’ The derivation from Goth. marzjan, ‘to vex,’ OHG. marren, męrren, ‘to hinder, disturb,’ is scarcely possible. Some etymologists connect the word with Slav.-Russ. kikimora, ‘ghost,’ Pol. mora, Bohem. můro, ‘nightmare.’ From Mahr, Fr. cauchemar, ‘nightmare,’ has also been derived (caucher, from Ital. calcare, ‘to tread, press’).