An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/beugen

by Friedrich Kluge

beugen, vb., ‘to bow, humble,’ from the equiv. MidHG. böugen, OHG. bougen, boucken; it corresponds to AS. bêgan, bîgan, ‘to bow,’ E. to bay, ‘to dam (water)’; factitive of biegen; hence lit. ‘to cause to bend.’