An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/dringen

by Friedrich Kluge

dringen, vb., ‘to press, crowd, pierce,’ from MidHG. dringen, OHG. dringan, ‘to compress, throng, press on,’ then also ‘to plait, weave’ (MidHG. drîhe, ‘embroidering needle’); comp. Goth. þreihan (eih from inh), ‘to throng, oppress, cram; afflict.’ The Teut. root is þrinhw, þrung; comp. also with OHG. dringan, OSax. thringan, AS. þringan, ‘to press,’ OIc. Þryngva. The h was retained by MidHG. drîhe, f., ‘embroidering needle,’ whence MidHG. drîhen, ‘to embroider.’ — With the general meaning ‘to press’ are connected ModHG. Drang, drängen, Gedränge (OHG. gidręngi), Goth. þraihns, ‘crowd’ (in faihuþraihns, ‘wealth’); E. throng. With the Teut. cognates Lith. trėnkti, ‘to shake, push,’ trànksmas, ‘din, tumult,’ Lett. treckt, ‘to shatter,’ are primit. allied.