An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/würgen

by Friedrich Kluge

würgen, verb, ‘to choke, strangle, throttle,’ from the equivalent Middle High German würgen (Middle German worgen), weak verb, Old High German wurgen (from *wurgjan). Beside this weak verb there existed a strong verbal root, Teutonic werg (deduced from the equivalent Middle High German erwërgen), from Aryan wergh, from which Lithuanian verszti (verżu), ‘to lace together, press firmly,’ and Old Slovenian vrŭzą, ‘to chain, bind,’ are derived. The word has also been compared with the Aryan root wrengh (see ringen).