An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Bicke

by Friedrich Kluge

Bicke, f., Bickel, m., ‘pickaxe,’ from the equiv. MidHG. bicke, bickel, m.; comp. MidHG. bicken, OHG. (ana)bicchan, wk. vb., ‘to prick, thrust’; allied to AS. becca, E. bick-iron. It is probably connected further with a Kelt.-Rom. class (Ital. becco, Fr. bec, Du. bek, ‘beak,’ Fr. bêche, ‘spade,’ Ital. beccare, ‘to hack,’ &c.); it is possible that AS. becca, ‘pickaxe,’ is allied to Ir. and Gael. bacc, ‘hook.’ Beil seems to come from another stem.