An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Zirkel

by Friedrich Kluge

Zirkel, m., ‘circle, circuit, company, society,’ from MidHG. zirkel, OHG. zirkil, m., ‘circle,’ which is again derived from Lat. circulus (Ital. circolo, Fr. cercle), ‘circle,’ MidHG. and OHG. zirc, ‘circle,’ from Lat. circus (Ital. circo).