An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Murmeltier

by Friedrich Kluge

Murmeltier, n., ‘marmot,’ corrupted in late MidHG. from MidHG. mürmendîn, n., OHG. murmuntî, n., ‘marmot’ (OHG. variant muremunto, m.). The ultimate source of the word is Lat. murem montis (mus montis, mus montanus), whence also the corresponding Ital. marmotta, Fr. marmotte. The OHG. form murmuntî is extended by a diminut. suffix.