An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/kriechen
kriechen, vb., ‘to crawl,’ from the equiv. MidHG. kriechen, OHG. chriohhan, str. vb.; corresponding to OSax. kriupan, Du. kruipen, AS. creópan, E. to creep, OIc. krjúpa. The relation of the HG. form with ch from k to the remaining Teut. languages with p has well-authenticated analogies; see Rufe (1), werfen, and Strunk. The guttural appears again in MidE. crûchen, E. to crouch. Kraufen, ‘to crawl,’ is the MidHG. (MidG.) krûfen.