An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/krauen
krauen, verb, ‘to tickle,’ from the equivalent Middle High German krouwen, Old High German chrouwôn, krouwen; Gothic *kraujôn, or rather *kraggwôn, and other correspondences are wanting. With this verb is connected Old High German chrouwil, Middle High German kröuwel, masculine, ‘three-pronged fork, talon, claw,’ to which Swiss and Modern High German Kräuel, ‘fork with hooked prongs’; compare Dutch kraauwel, masculine, ‘pitchfork, fork, claw, finger-nail,’ allied to kraauwen, ‘to scratch.’ Connected with Krume.