An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Ochse
Ochse, m., from the equiv. MidHG. ohse, OHG. ohso, m., ‘ox’; corresponding terms occur in all the OTeut. dials.; Goth. aukhsa, OIc. oxe, AS. oxa, E. ox, Du. os, OSax. ohso, ‘ox.’ The common Teut. ohsan- (from pre-Teut. uksén-) is primit. cognate with Sans. ukšán, ‘bull,’ the words Kuh and Stier being also common to the Aryan group. The Sans. root is ukš, ‘to spurt out,’ or ukš, ‘to grow strong, grow up.’ If the latter is correct, Ochse is connected with wachsen, yet it may be a masc. form of Lat. vacca, ‘cow.’