An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Krause

by Friedrich Kluge

Krause, feminine, ‘pitcher with a lid,’ from Middle High German krûse, feminine, ‘pitcher, earthenware drinking vessel’; Old High German *chrûsa, feminine; Middle Dutch kruise, Anglo-Saxon *crûse, Middle English crûse, English cruse; Scandinavian krús, ‘pitcher with a lid.’ It is not immediately connected with High German Krug. That the word is of foreign origin seems certain, yet the ultimate source cannot be Greek κρωσσός, ‘pitcher.’ See the following word.