An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/streifen
streifen, vb., ‘to graze slightly, strip off,’ from MidHG. ströufen (stroufen), wk. vb., besides which a rare form, striefen, ‘to skin, flay, chastise,’ occurs. OHG. *stroufen and Goth. *straupjan are also indicated by Du. stroopen, ‘to strip, strip off leaves, make predatory excursions,’ AS. bestrŷpan, E. to strip. ModHG. sträuben is also more remotely allied. Prehistoric cognates of the Teut. root straup are wanting. For ModHG. ei, equiv. to MidHG. öu, see Schleife.