An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Vogel

by Friedrich Kluge

Vogel, m., ‘bird, fowl,’ from the equiv. MidHG. vogel, OHG. fogal, m.; a common Teut. term; comp. Goth. fugls, AS. fugol. E. fowl, Du. vogel, OSax. fugal, m., ‘bird.’ This specifically Teut. word has no exact correspondence in non-Teut. Teut. fugla- is perhaps derived from the Teut. root flug, ‘to fly,’ thus connecting the word with Geflügel (for which gevügele occurs, however, in MidHG.) as the collective of Vogel. Others prefer to connect it with Fuchs, which is regarded as ‘the animal with a tail.’ There is no term in Teut. corresponding to Lat. avis, Sans. vi, ‘bird.’