An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/weich

by Friedrich Kluge

weich, adj., ‘soft, tender, impressible,’ from the equiv. MidHG. weich, OHG. weih (hh); corresponding to OSax. wêk, Du. week, AS. wâc, OIc. veikr, veykr (whence E. weak), ‘soft, tender.’ A derivative of the root of weichen (hence weich, lit. ‘yielding, giving way’).