An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Streu
Streu, f., ‘litter, bed of straw,’ from the equiv. MidHG. ströu, f., allied to streuen, from the equiv. MidHG. ströuwen (strouwen), OHG. stręwen (strouwen), wk. vb. To this correspond Goth. straujan, OSax. stręwian, Du. strooijen, AS. streowian, E. to strew. The common Teut. straujan (to which Stroh is allied), whence Ital. sdrajarsi, ‘to stretch away,’ is borrowed, is connected in some inexplicable manner with the Aryan root ster (strō̆), in Lat. sternere, Gr. στορέννυμι, στρώννυμι, and the Sans. root stṛ, ‘to strew.’