An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Ekel

by Friedrich Kluge

Ekel, m., ‘nausea, disgust, aversion,’ a ModHG. word, which has obtained a wide circulation through Luther (he used the form Eckel; unknown in the contemporaneous UpG. writings). A MidG. word with obscure cognates; it is perhaps connected with AS. âcol, ‘burdensome, troublesome’ (base aiklo-), and probably also to LG. extern, ‘to vex’ (Du. akelig, ‘terrible,’ E. ‘ache’?). The h in UpG. heifel (Swiss, heikχel) may be excrescent, as in heischen. These cognates have probably no connection with a Teut. root erk, ‘to vomit, nauseare,’ to which old UpG. erkele, ‘to loathe,’ E. irksome, to irk, are allied. —