An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Schenk

by Friedrich Kluge

Schenk, m., ‘publican, cupbearer,’ from the equiv. MidHG. schęnke, OHG. scęncho (OSax. scęnkio), m., ‘cupbearer.’ From Teut. is derived Fr. échanson (OFr. eschançon, MidLat. scancionem). —

schenken, vb., ‘to pour out for drinking, bestow, give,’ from MidHG. schęnken, ‘to pour in, give to drink, water, make a present of, give’; OHG. scęnchen, ‘to pour in, give to drink.’ The meaning ‘to give’ first appears in the post-classical times of MidHG. ‘To pour in, give to drink,’ is the prim. meaning; it is characteristic of G. that the sense ‘to give,’ could be developed from this (similarly ModHG. gefallen attests the importance of dice-playing in Teut. life; comp. also zechen). The prim. meaning appears in AS. sčęnčan, OFris. skenka, OIc. skenkja; from Teut. is also formed OFr. escancer, ‘to pour in.’ Goth. *skagkjan is wanting. Some etymologists regard the common Teut. vb. as a derivative of AS. sčęonc, sčę́onca, ‘shank,’ assuming that shanks were used as taps in the earliest times; hence schenken would mean lit. ‘to put the tap in a cask.’ See the next word.