An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Belche

by Friedrich Kluge

Belche (1.), feminine, ‘a kind of salmon’; of obscure origin. See Bolche.

Belche (2.), feminine, ‘coot,’ from Middle High German bęlche, Old High German bęlihha; Latin fulica seems allied to it, although Old High German hh implies a Latin g; the German guttural suffix is the same as in Gothic ā̆haks, ‘pigeon.’ See also Habicht, Kranich.