An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Wiege

by Friedrich Kluge

Wiege, f., ‘cradle,’ from the equiv. MidHG. wige, wiege, OHG. wiga (*wiega?), and, with a different gradation, waga, f.; corresponding to Du. wieg, OIc. vagga, ‘cradle’ (in AS. cradol, E. cradle). It is evidently connected with the root weg in bewegen, wackeln; yet some difficulties still remain; the relation of OHG. and MidHG. ie, i, a, is not quite clear (see schief and Stiege).