An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Wickel

by Friedrich Kluge

Wickel, masculine and neuter, ‘roll, curl-paper, distaff-ful (of flax),’ from Middle High German wickel, wickelin, Old High German wicchilî, wicchilîn, neuter, ‘roll, a quantity of flax or wool to spin off’; cognate with Wicke, ‘wick.’ Further cognates are wanting to explain the early history of the word. Allied to wickeln, verb ‘to roll, wind, swathe,’ from late Middle High German wickeln, literally ‘to make into the form of a roll’; also Modern High German Wickel, feminine, ‘swaddling clothes.’