An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Mange

by Friedrich Kluge

Mange, Mangel, f., ‘mangle,’ from MidHG. mange, f., ‘machine for rolling woven stuffs, catapult’; comp. Du. mangel, equiv. to E. mangle. The origin of the word is sometimes ascribed, on account of the dial. forms Mande, Mandel, to the Sans. root manth, ‘to turn,’ which appears in OIc. mǫndull, ‘handle’ (espec. of a hand-mill). Allied terms in Rom. show, however, that g in the word Mangel must be very old; Ital. mangano, ‘sling,’ OFr. mangoneau, ‘sling,’ whence MidE. mangonel. There is no Teut. type of the whole class; its source is said to be Gr. μάγγανον, ‘warlike machine’; perhaps an instrument of this kind furnished the model for the mangle.