An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/stampfen

by Friedrich Kluge

stampfen, verb, ‘to stamp, pound,’ from the equivalent Middle High German stampfen, Old High German stampfôn; a derivative of Modern High German Stampf, Middle High German and Old High German stampf, ‘punch’; compare Dutch stampen, English to stamp, Old Icelandic stappa (for *stampa), ‘to stamp, push.’ From these cognates Italian stampare, French étamper, ‘to impress,’ Italian stampa, ‘stamp, impression,’ and French estampe, are borrowed. Akin to Stempel and stumpf. The Teutonic root stamp (stump), ‘to push,’ contained in these words, seems to be connected with Greek στέμβω, ‘I tread’ (and Sanscrit stamba, ‘post’?). Compare Stapfe and Stempel.