'auger' originates from Middle English (earlier spelled 'nauger' or 'nawger'), ultimately tracing back to Old English 'nafela' (or 'nafola'), where the earlier form referred to a 'nave' or hub (and by extension tools related to wheels or boring).

'auger' changed from Middle English 'nauger' (with an initial n) and through rebracketing of phrases like 'a nauger' → 'an auger' lost the initial n to become the modern English 'auger'.

Initially related to terms for a hub or tools associated with wheels, over time it came to mean specifically 'a tool for boring holes' and has retained that specialized meaning in modern English.