An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Ring

by Friedrich Kluge

Ring, m., ‘ring, circle, link,’ from MidHG. rinc (gen. ringes), OHG. ring, earlier hring, m.. ‘ring, hoop, circular object’; comp. OSax. hring, Du. ring, AS. hring, E. ring, OIc. hringr, m. The common Teut. word, which implies a casually non-existent Goth. *hriggs, denoted a circle, and everything of a circular form. Pre-Teut. krengho- appears also in the corresponding OSlov. krągŭ, m., ‘circle,’ krąglŭ, ‘round.’ From the Teut. word, which also signifies ‘assembly’ (grouped in a circle), are derived the Rom. cognates, Ital. aringo, ‘rostrum,’ Fr. harangue, ‘public speech,’ and Fr. rang.