An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/necken

by Friedrich Kluge

necken, vb., ‘to tease, banter,’ from MidHG. (MidG.) nęcken, ‘to excite the appetite,’ to which is allied MidHG. (MidG.) nachaft, ‘malicious, crafty,’ nac-heit, ‘malice, cunning’; not found in OHG. Of obscure origin. See Schabernack.