An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Spuk

by Friedrich Kluge

Spuk, m., ‘spectre, ghost,’ ModHG. only, prop. a LG. word; it is unknown to UpG. (the strictly HG. form Spuch occurs in early ModHG.); comp. LG. and Du. spook, from Teut. spauka-. Allied to Swed. spok, ‘scarecrow,’ Dan. spøg, ‘joke, fun,’ Norweg. spjok, ‘ghost’ (E. spook is of Scand. origin). It is uncertain whether the word is related to Lith. spůgulas, ‘splendour.’