An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/prickeln

by Friedrich Kluge

prickeln, vb., ‘to prick, goad,’ ModHG. only, prop. a LG. word, of which the strictly HG. variant pfrëcken is once recorded in late MidHG. Comp. Du. prikkelen (prikken), ‘to prick, stitch,’ AS. prician, E. to prick, and prickle, equiv. to Du. prikkel; these words are based on an OTeut. root prik, which, in spite of the initial p, cannot have been borrowed.