An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Schwank

by Friedrich Kluge

Schwank, masculine. ‘prank, drollery, farce,’ from late Middle High German swanc (g or k), masculine, ‘prank, trick, an anecdote about it,’ identical with Middle High German swanc, ‘swing, stroke, cut’ (see Schwang), Old High German swanch, masculine, allied to swingan (just as Old High German chlanch to chlingan; see Klang).