An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/hapern

by Friedrich Kluge

hapern, vb., ‘to stick, hitch,’ formed from Du. (MidDu.) haperen, ‘to miss, stutter’; yet also Suab. hăperen (as well as Swiss hâpen, ‘to crawl’?). The corresponding terms, origin, and history of the diffusion of the cognates are obscure.