An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Rechen

by Friedrich Kluge

Rechen, m., ‘rake, rack,’ from the equiv. MidHG. rëche, OHG. rëhkho, m.; corresponding to Du. reek, f., ‘rake,’ and OIc. reka, f., ‘rake’; allied to MidHG. rëchen, OHG. rëhhan, ‘to scrape together,’ Goth. rikan, ‘to heap up, collect,’ also to MidLG. and MidDu. rake, AS. racu, f., E. rake, with a different gradation. The Teut. root rak, rëk, from Aryan reg, rog, is compared by some with Gr. ‘ὀ-ρέγειν, ‘to stretch out,’ by others, without reason, to Lat. legere, ‘to collect.’ See rechnen and recken.