An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Sarg

by Friedrich Kluge

Sarg, m., ‘coffin,’ from MidHG. sarc (gen. sarkes) and sarch (gen. sarches), m., ‘coffin, vault, grave,’ also generally ‘shrine, receptacle,’ OHG. saruh, sarch, m., ‘sarcophagus, coffin’; comp. Du. zerk, ‘gravestone.’ Rom. has a corresponding class in ModFr. cercueil, ‘coffin,’ and its earlier cognates. The ordinary derivation from σαρκοφάγος, ‘sarcophagus,’ was repudiated as early as Lessing, because Sarg in MidHG. ‘signified in countless passages a receptacle generally, a water vessel, a trough, a shrine for idols or saints’; perhaps the Gr. term has helped to determine the ModHG. meaning and the spelling of the word with g. As yet nothing definite has been discovered concerning this probably Teut. word. It may be connected with OIc. serkr, ‘shirt,’ since the Aryan root serg in Lith. sérgėti (OSlov. strěgą, strěšti), ‘to watch over, guard,’ has a general signification (Sarg, ‘receptacle’).