An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Riemen

by Friedrich Kluge

Riemen, m., ‘strap, thong, strong,’ from MidHG. rieme, OHG. riomo, m., ‘band, girdle, strap’; corresponding to OSax. riomo, m., Du. riem, AS. reóma, ‘strap’; Goth. *riuma, m., is wanting. Gr. ῥῦμα, ‘towing-line, rope,’ is primit. allied, and hence the Aryan root was probably rū̆ (Gr. ἐρύω), ‘to draw.’