An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/rümpfen

by Friedrich Kluge

rümpfen, vb., ‘to turn up (the nose),’ from MidHG. rümphen, ‘to turn up (the nose), wrinkle’; OHG. *rumpfen is wanting, rimpfan (MidHG. rimphen), ‘to contract, wrinkle,’ being used; comp. Du. rimpelen, ‘to wrinkle,’ and rompelig, ‘rugged.’ The cognates have scarcely lost an initial h in spite of the existence of AS. hrympele, ‘wrinkle,’ and gehrumpen, ‘wrinkled,’ since gerumpen, ‘bent,’ is also recorded in AS. without an initial h. The Teut. root rimp (comp. further E. rimple, rumple, and Du. rimpel, ‘wrinkle’) has been connected with Gr. ῥάμφος, ‘curved beak, espec. of birds of prey,’ as well as ῥέμβομαι, ‘to roam,’ ῥαμφή, ‘curved dagger.’