An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/gering

by Friedrich Kluge

gering, adj., ‘petty, trifling,’ prop. ‘insignificant, easy,’ from MidHG. geringe, ‘light and quick, nimble,’ ringe, ‘easy, light, convenient, insignificant, slight, small,’ OHG. ringi, giringi, ‘light’; a specifically G. adj., wanting in the other Teut. dialects; origin obscure. The development of meaning from ‘light’ to ‘slight’ through the medium of ‘easy’ is similar to that of klein.