An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Belche

by Friedrich Kluge

Belche (1.), f., ‘a kind of salmon’; of obscure origin. See Bolche.

Belche (2.), f., ‘coot,’ from MidHG. bęlche, OHG. bęlihha; Lat. fulica seems allied to it, although OHG. hh implies a Lat. g; the Germ. guttural suffix is the same as in Goth. ā̆haks, ‘pigeon.’ See also Habicht, Kranich.