An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/eng

by Friedrich Kluge

eng, adj., ‘narrow, close, strait, confined,’ from the equiv. MidHG. and MidLG. ęnge, OHG. ęngi, angi; corresponds to Goth. aggwus, OIc. øngr (seldom ǫngr), ‘narrow,’ Du. eng; from the Teut. root ang, Aryan angh, preserved also in Angst. Comp. Lat. angustus, angustiœ, angere (see also bange), as well as Sans. aṅhú, ‘narrow,’ áṅhas, n., ‘narrowness, chasm, oppression,’ OSlov. ązŭkŭ, ‘narrow,’ Gr. ἄγχω, ‘to strangle,’ Armen. anjuk, Ir. cum-ung, ‘narrow.’