An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Speiche

by Friedrich Kluge

Speiche, f., ‘spoke,’ from the equiv. MidHG. speiche, OHG. speihha, f.; a West Teut. word; comp. AS. spâce, E. spoke, Du. speek, OLG. spêca, ‘spoke.’ Its connection with OHG. spahha, ‘chip, stick,’ Du. spaak, ‘rafter,’ is not certain. Speiche is derived from a primit. Teut. spī̆k; so too the cognates of ModHG. Speichernagel, whose first component is ModHG. (simply MidG.) spîcher, m., ‘nail.’ This corresponds to Du. spijker, ‘nail,’ OIc. spik, ‘spike, sprig,’ and E. spike.