An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Werk

by Friedrich Kluge

Werk, neuter, ‘work, deed, production,’ from the equivalent Middle High German wërc (wërch), Old High German wërc, wërah (hh), neuter; for the double forms compare the cognate Werg. Based on a common Teutonic werko-, ‘work,’ which is attested by Old Icelandic verk, Anglo-Saxon weorc, English work, Dutch and Old Saxon wërk. For further details concerning the root, to which Greek ἔργον is allied, see wirken.