An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/kauzen
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kauzen, vb., ‘to cower’; ModHG. only; like kauern, it is connected with the root kû; zen is a suffix from OHG. zen, azen (ȥȥen, aȥȥen), Goth. atjan; *kûwatjan would be the Goth. form. Comp. kauern.