An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Volk

by Friedrich Kluge

Volk, n., ‘people, nation, soldiery, troops,’ from the equiv. MidHG. volc (k), OHG. folc, n. (rarely m.); corresponding to OSax. folk, Du. volk, AS. folc, E. folk; OIc. fólk, ‘people, troops, detachment.’ The latter seems to be the primary meaning, from which Lith. pulkas, ‘heap, crowd,’ and OSlov. plŭkŭ, ‘troops,’ are borrowed. The connection of the word with Lat. vulgus is uncertain, for it is very dubious whether the Lat. word and the Teut. cognates can be based on a primary form, qelgos, qolgos.