An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Schaufel
Schaufel, feminine, ‘shovel,’ from the equivalent Middle High German schûvel, Old High German scûvala, feminine, pointing to Gothic *skûfla (skûbla). The forms of the other Teutonic languages point to Gothic *skŭbla, feminine; compare Dutch schoffel, feminine, ‘shovel,’ Anglo-Saxon sčęofl, feminine, English shovel. Allied to the root skûb (skûf?) in schieben; hence Schaufel is literally ‘a tool on which something is put to be thrown away.’ For the change of ŭ to û compare Sohn and laut.