An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Holk

by Friedrich Kluge

Holk, masculine, ‘large, heavy ship,’ from Middle High German holche, Old High German hoicho, transport ship; compare Low German holk, Dutch hulk, ‘transport ship,’ English hulk. This word, like other nautical terms (see Helm), appears earliest in English, in which hulc, ‘liburna,’ is found in the 9th century Middle Latin holcas is scarcely derived from ὁλκάς?. It is true that some etymologists also ascribe other Teutonic naval terns to a Greek origin. Compare Barke.