An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Traufe

by Friedrich Kluge

Traufe, f., ‘dripping of water, eaves, gutter,’ from the equiv. MidHG. troufe, f., MidHG. and OHG. trouf, m. A graded form from triefen, ‘to drop, trickle’; so too ModHG. träufeln, träufen, ‘to drip, trickle,’ from MidHG. tröufen, MidHG. and OHG. troufen, lit. ‘to cause to drop.’