An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Unke

by Friedrich Kluge

Unke, f., ‘ringed snake,’ ModHG. only; in MidHG. ûche (OHG. ûhha), f., ‘toad’; MidHG. and OHG. unc, m., ‘snake.’ Probably the ModHG. word is due to a combination of the older forms.