An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/heikel

by Friedrich Kluge

heikel, adj., ‘hooked, captious, nice,’ ModHG. only, but widely current in the dials.; Swiss. heikχel, Bav. and Suab. haikel, East Fris. hekel, ‘fastidious with regard to food.’ Geographically heifel and Efel seem to supplement each other, and hence may be regarded as identical.