An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Ramme

by Friedrich Kluge

Ramme, feminine, from the equivalent Middle High German (Middle German) ramme, feminine, ‘rammer, pile-driver,’ properly identical with Middle High German ram (genitive rammes), masculine, ‘ram,’ Old High German ram, rammo, masculine, ‘ram’ (compare Bock, Krahn); corresponding to Dutch ram, ‘ram, battering-ram,’ Anglo-Saxon ramm, English ram. No connection with Greek ἀρήν is possible; it is more probably allied to Old Icelandic ramr, rammr, ‘strong, sharp, powerful.’ See the following word.