An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Krücke

by Friedrich Kluge

Krücke, f., ‘crutch,’ from the equiv. MidHG. krücke, krucke, OHG. chruccha (for *krukjô), f.; comp. Du. kruk, AS. cryčč, f. E. crutch. Certainly a genuine Teut. word (‘staff with a curved handle’); it is most closely connected with Scand. krókr, ‘hook, curve’; it may also be related to kriechen. In the MidHG. period it was confused with a Rom. term based upon Lat. crucea, and meaning ‘crosier.’ On the other hand, the Teut. word was submerged in many of the Rom. languages in the old inherited term; Ital. croccia, ‘crutch,’ crocco, ‘hook,’ Fr. crosse, ‘crook,’ croc, ‘hook’; MidLat. croca, ‘baculus episcopalis,’ crocea, ‘baculus pastoralis’ and ‘baculus incurvus,’ croceus, croccia, crucia, crucca, ‘crutch,’ Krücke can scarcely be explained from MidLat. crucea, ‘cross-bar’ (of a window), because this must have become chruzza (ce changed to tz); comp. Kreuz.