An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Taumel

by Friedrich Kluge

Taumel, m., ‘reeling, staggering, frenzy,’ from MidHG. tū̆meln (tū̆men, tū̆melieren), ‘to reel, stagger,’ OHG. tûmalôn (tū̆môn), ‘to turn.’ From the OHG. and MidHG. variant with is derived tummeln (comp. also Rohrdommel). The Teut. root dû contained in these words leads to kinship with the Sans. root dhû, ‘to storm along, put in violent motion, shake.’