An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/krachen

by Friedrich Kluge

krachen, vb., ‘to crack, crash, break,’ from the equiv. MidHG. krachen, OHG. chrahhôn; comp. Du. kraken, ‘to crack (nuts, &c.), burst, crack, crackle,’ AS. cracian, E. to crack; Goth. *krakôn is wanting. AS. cearcian, ‘to crack’ (Goth. *karkôn), is worthy of note; comp. respecting the apparent transposition of the r, Brett and Bord, fragen and forschen. Teut. root krk from grg; comp. Sans. gṛg, garj, ‘to rustle, crackle.’ —