An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Karch

by Friedrich Kluge

Karch, masculine, ‘dray,’ from the equivalent Middle High German karrech, karrich, Old High German charrū̆k (hh), masculine. Probably current even in the 8th century on the Upper and Middle Rhine, as may be inferred from the initial h, ch (compare Pferd). It is based upon the late Latin carruca, ‘honoratorum vehiculum opertum, four wheeled travelling car’ (a derivative of carrus; compare Karren); French charrue, ‘plough,’ is likewise based upon Latin carrûca, which also signifies ‘plough’ in Middle Latin.