An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Quecksilber

by Friedrich Kluge

Quecksilber, neuter, ‘quicksilver,’ from the equivalent Middle High German quëcsilber, Old High German quëcsilbar; an imitation, like Dutch kwikzilver, English quicksilver (Anglo-Saxon cwicseolfor), of the common Romance argentum vivum; compare Italian argento vivo, French vif-argent.