An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Holk

by Friedrich Kluge

Holk, m., ‘large, heavy ship,’ from MidHG. holche, OHG. hoicho, transport ship; comp. LG. holk, Du. hulk, ‘transport ship,’ E. hulk. This word, like other nautical terms (see Helm), appears earliest in E., in which hulc, ‘liburna,’ is found in the 9th cent. MidLat. holcas is scarcely derived from ὁλκάς?. It is true that some etymologists also ascribe other Teut. naval terns to a Gr. origin. Comp. Barke.