An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Zarge

by Friedrich Kluge

Zarge, f., ‘border, edge, setting, groove,’ from the equiv. MidHG. zarge, OHG. zarga, f. Corresponding with as change of meaning to AS. and OIc. targa, ‘shield’ (lit. ‘shield border’), whence Fr. targe, Ital. targa, ‘shield’ (whence MidHG. and ModHG. tartsche, E. target, are borrowed). The remoter history of the cognates is obscure.