An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Knochen

by Friedrich Kluge

Knochen, masculine, ‘bone,’ from Middle High German knoche, masculine ‘bone, knot of a branch, fruit capsule,’ The Modern High German word, almost unknown to Luther, rarely occurs in Middle High German, and is entirely wanting in Old High German (Bein is the genuine Upper German and High German word for Knochen, which again is originally native to the Middle German and Low German dialects.) Knochen is, however, proved by the corresponding diminutive Knöchel to be a good Old Teutonic word; Gothic *knuqa, masculine, may be assumed. It is still uncertain whether it is connected with English to knock, Anglo-Saxon cnucian, Old Icelandic knoka, Middle High German knochen, ‘to cuff,’ or is related to Old Icelandic knúe, ‘knuckle,’ which would favour its further kinship with Knie. From *knuqa, Upper German Knocke, ‘snag, knot,’ Middle High German knock, ‘nape,’ may be derived; their ck correctly represents the old q. Allied words with final g in the stem are, however, obscure, Middle High German knögerlin, ‘little knot, and Middle High German knügel, ‘knuckle.’