An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Barke
Barke, feminine, ‘barque, boat,’ from the equivalent Middle High German barke, feminine; corresponds to Scandinavian barke, ‘barque’; not of German origin. The cognates are based upon an equivalent Romance class with the primitive forms barca-barica (found even in the 7th century in Isidore); compare French barque (besides Old French barge, from Middle Latin barica; whence English barge, Low German Barse), Italian barca; Old Irish barc is of similar origin. The ultimate source of the cognates (Spain?) is uncertain.