An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/stutzen

by Friedrich Kluge

stutzen, vb., ‘to stop short, hesitate, be startled, to cut short,’ from late MidHG. stutzen, wk. vb., ‘to scare away’; allied to MidHG. stutz, ‘push, impact’ (Teut. root staut, see stoßen); comp. Du. stuiten, ‘to check, rebound.’ —