An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Plunder

by Friedrich Kluge

Plunder, m., ‘trash, lumber, plunder,’ from late MidHG. plunder, blunder, m., ‘household furniture, clothes, linen,’ which is probably a LG. loan-word (MidLG. plunde, ‘clothing’). Hence plündern, ‘to plunder,’ lit. ‘to take away the household furniture’ (also Du. plunderen, ‘to plunder’).