An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Orgel

by Friedrich Kluge

Orgel, f., ‘organ’ (mus. instrument), from MidHG. organâ, orgene, OHG. organâ, f., of which a rare variant in l occurs, OHG. orgela, MidHG. orgel, f., ‘organ.’ OHG. organa is derived from MidLat. organum (Ital. organo, Fr. orgue, E. organ), or rather its plur. organa, ‘organ.’ Properly, however, “organa dicuntur omnia instrumenta musicorum; non solum illud organum dicitur quod grande est et inflatur follibus, &c.” (Augustine). Organs were known to the MidEurop. Teutons as early as the latter half of the 8th cent., espec. in the reign of Charlemagne, for Charlemagne himself received a magnificent organ, which was described by a monk of St. Gall, as a present from the Byzantine emperor Michael.