An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Harke

by Friedrich Kluge

Harke, f., ‘rake,’ a LG. word, in UpG. Rechen; comp. Du. hark, AS. *hearge, EL. harrow, OIc. herfe, n., ‘harrow,’ Dan. harv, Swed. hœrf. Considering the almost certain identity of the words, their phonetic relations present some difficulties. The root might perhaps be Sans. kharj, ‘to scratch,’ yet AS. hyrwe (*hearge), E. harrow, OIc. herfe, ‘rake,’ are difficult to reconcile with it.