An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Eck

by Friedrich Kluge

Eck, n., Ecke, f., ‘edge, corner,’ from MidHG. ęcke, f. (seldom neu.), ‘edge of weapons, point, corner, brim,’ OHG. ękka, f., ‘point, edge of a sword.’ Corresponds to OSax. ęggia, f., ‘edge, sharpness, sword,’ AS. ęcg, ‘corner, point, edge (of a sword, &c.), sword,’ E. edg,, OIc. egg, f., ‘point’: Goth. *agja, f., is not recorded. The meaning ‘point, sharp edge,’ which originally was the most prominent in the cognates (see also Egge), recalls the development in ModHG. Ort. The Teut. root ag(ah), pre-Teut. ak (Goth. agjô-, from Aryan akyã-), with the primary meaning ‘pointed,’ is found in very many non-Teut. languages, since ModHG. Ähre and the non-Teut. words cited under that word are primit. allied to it, as are also Lat. acies, Gr. ἀκίς, ‘point,’ both in form and meaning.