An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/zausen

by Friedrich Kluge

zausen, vb., ‘to tease (wool, &c.), tug, pull about,’ from MidHG. and OHG. erzûsen, OHG. zirzûsôn, wk. vb.; comp. MidHG. zûsach, ‘brambles.’ Apart from HG. the Teut. root tū̆s (Aryan dū̆s), ‘to tear to pieces,’ does not occur; the comparison with Lat. dûmus (from *dū̆smus?), ‘bramble,’ is uncertain.