from Old French targe, from Frankish *targa ("buckler");
or
from Old English targa (masculine) and targe (feminine);
both ultimately from Old Norse targa ("round shield") from Proto-Germanic *targǭ ("edge"), from Proto-Indo-European *derǵʰ- ("fenced lot"). Akin to Old High German zarga ("side wall, rim") (German Zarge ("border, frame")). However, the soft -g- seems to indicate a French origin.
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