An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/wirr

by Friedrich Kluge

wirr, adjective, ‘confused, entangled,’ a Modern High German derivative of wirren, ‘to twist, entangle, confuse’ (mostly now verwirren). This properly strong verb (as the old Modern High German participle verworren shows) is based on Middle High German wërren (verwërren), Old High German wërran (firwërran), strong verbs, ‘to entangle, confuse.’ On the corresponding substantive Old High German wërra, ‘confusion, dispute,’ are based Italian guerra, French guerre, ‘war.’ It is uncertain whether Old High German and Old Saxon wërran, strong verb, ‘to bring into confusion,’ is based on an earlier *wersan, and whether Wurst is connected with it. A pre-Teutonic root wers appears in Old Slovenian vrěšti, ‘to thresh,’ and probably also in Latin verro, ‘to sweep.’ English worse (Gothic waírsiza; see the following word) is usually referred to the Teutonic root wers, ‘to confuse.’