An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Troddel

by Friedrich Kluge

Troddel, f., ‘tassel, bob,’ dimin. of MidHG. trâde, OHG. tráda, f. (trâdo, m.), ‘fringe’; MidHG. trôdel (dial. for trâdel) signifies ‘fibre in wood,’ Since the other Teut. dialects have no word corresponding to OHG. trâdo, ‘fringe,’ nothing definite can be ascertained concerning its early history.