An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/welk

by Friedrich Kluge

welk, adj., ‘withered, faded,’ from MidHG. and OHG. wëlc (wëlch), ‘moist, mild, lukewarm, faded’; peculiar to HG.; connected with MidE. welken, E. to welk, and Wolke. The primary meaning of the Teut. root welk, from Aryan welg, is ‘to be moist,’ as is indicated also by OSlov. vlaga, ‘moistness,’ vlûgûkû, ‘moist,’ Lith. vìlgyti, ‘to moisten,’ Lett. wélgans, wálgans, ‘moist,’ unless these are more closely allied to AS. wlacu, wlœc, ‘moist.’ From a form *walki, connected with OHG. wëlk, Fr. gauche, ‘left,’ is usually derived.