An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Schinken

by Friedrich Kluge

Schinken, masculine, ‘ham,’ from Middle High German schinke, masculine, ‘thigh, ham,’ Old High German scincho, masculine, scincha, feminine, ‘tibia, thigh.’ They are related by gradation to the cognates adduced under Schenkel, to which Suabian and Alemannian (and Bavarian) Schunke, Old Frisian skunka, meaning ‘bone, thigh, ham,’ are also to be added as further graded forms. Its connection with Schiene is probable on account of the meaning. From the Teutonic cognates Italian (dialectic) stinco (schinco), ‘shin-bone,’ is borrowed.