Nudge
late 17th century (as a verb): of unknown origin; compare with Norwegian dialect nugga, nyggja ‘to push, rub’.
wiktionary
Circa 17th century, perhaps of North Germanic origin, related to Norwegian nugge, nyggje(“to push, rub, shove”), Icelandic nugga(“to rub, massage”), from the root of Proto-Germanic *hnōjaną(“to smooth, join together”), from Proto-Indo-European *kneh₂- (compare Ancient Greek κνάω(knáō, “to scratch, scrape”), source of English acnestis). [1]
Compare also Scots nodge(“to push, poke, nudge”), knidge(“to push, squeeze”), gnidge(“to rub, press, squeeze, bruise”), and knudge(“to squeeze, press down with the knuckles”), Middle Low German nucke, nücke, gnücke(“a sudden push, shock, impetus”).
etymonline
nudge (v.)
"to push slightly with the elbow," 1670s, perhaps from Scandinavian (compare Norwegian nugge, nyggje "to jostle, rub;" Icelandic nugga "to rub, massage"). Figurative sense of "give a hint or signal to," as by a covert touch, is by 1831. Related: Nudged; nudging.
nudge (n.1)
"complainer, nagger," 1960s, from Yiddish, from Slavic words meaning "fret, ache," related to the root of nudnik (q.v.).
nudge (n.2)
"a slight push with the elbow," 1787, from nudge (v.). Figurative sense of "a signal or hint intended to call attention, remind, etc." is by 1831.
