An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Nacken

by Friedrich Kluge

Nacken, m., ‘nape,’ from MidHG. nacke, nac (gen. -ckes), m., ‘hind part of the head, nape,’ OHG. nac hnac (cch), m.; comp. Du. nek, AS. hnëcca, m., ‘neck, nape,’ E. neck, OIc. hnakke, m., ‘hind part of the head’ (Goth. *hnakka, *hnikka, is wanting). In Suab. and Franc. Anfe or Genick is mostly used, and in Bav. Genäck (the Bav. meaning of nacken, ‘bone,’ is remarkable). The graded form with ë (AS. hnëcca) parallel to a-o is preserved by ModHG. in Genick; E. nape (AS. hnapa?) seems to be a corresponding form with a medial labial. In the non-Teut. languages the word may be cognate with OIr. cnocc, OBret. cnoch, ‘hill, elevation’ (stem cnocco-).