An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/wühlen

by Friedrich Kluge

wühlen, vb., ‘to root, grub up, burrow, rummage, stir up,’ from the equiv. MidHG. wüelen, OHG. wuolen (from *wôljan); corresponding to Du. woelen. With this weak verbal root wôl is connected the Teut. cognate walo- (see Wahlstatt), to which OHG. and MidHG. wuol and AS. wôl, ‘defeat, ruin,’ are allied.