An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Plage

by Friedrich Kluge

Plage, f., ‘plague, calamity,’ from MidHG. plâge, OHG. plâga, f., ‘divine punishment’; adopted on the introduction of Christianity during the OHG. period (comp. Pein) from Lat. plâga, ‘blow, thrust.’ From the same source the Rom. cognates, Ital. piaga, Fr. plaie, ‘wound’ (E. plague), are derived.