An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Schrank

by Friedrich Kluge

Schrank, masculine, ‘cupboard, chest, press,’ from Middle High German schranc (k), masculine, ‘that which shuts off, railing, enclosure, barrier, enclosing, space shut off, cupboard.’ From the meaning ‘enclosure, space shut off,’ which still appears in the feminine form Schranke, the early Modern High German signification ‘cupboard’ was developed. The corresponding Old High German scranch, masculine, ‘deception, deceit,’ points to the verb schränken, root skrank, ‘oblique.’ The substantive does not occur elsewhere; in Franconian, Hessian, and Low German Schank is used; in Swiss chašte or šăfrâti, Alsatian špint. See the following words.