An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Dreck

by Friedrich Kluge

Dreck, masculine, ‘dirt, mire, filth, dung,’ from the equivalent Middle High German drëc (genitive -ckes), masculine, ‘dirt’; Old High German *drëcch, Gothic *þrikk, masculine, are supported by Old Icelandic þrekkr, masculine, ‘dirt’ (Danish dräck). Perhaps derived from the meaning ‘sediment, lees,’ so that Greek τρύξ, τρυγός, ‘lees, sediment, fresh must’ (with υ for o?), may perhaps be compared.