An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Wicke

by Friedrich Kluge

Wicke (1.), f., ‘vetch, tare,’ from the equiv. MidHG. wicke, OHG. wiccha, f.; corresponding to Du. wikke. Borrowed from Lat. vicia, ‘vetch,’ whence the equiv. Ital. veccia, Fr. vesce (E. vetch). The period at which it was borrowed (contemporaneous with Spelt?) is fixed by the representation of Lat. v by w (comp. Pfau, Pfühl with Vogt and Veilchen), as well as the retention of the Lat. c as k (comp. Kreuz).

Wicke (2.), f. ‘wick,’ see Wieche.