An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/kauern

by Friedrich Kluge

kauern, vb., ‘to crouch’; its relation to MidHG. hûren (Du. hurken), ‘to squat,’ is obscure; in E. and in Scand. an initial k also appears, MidE. couren, E. to cower; Dan. kûre, Swed. kûra, in the ModHG. sense; OIc. kúra, ‘to be inactive’ Comp. kauzen.