An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Schnack

by Friedrich Kluge

Schnack, masculine, ‘chit-chat, talk,’ Modern High German only, formed from Middle German, Low German, and Dutch snakken, ‘to chatter, babble’; to this is allied Modern High German Schnake, ‘merry tale,’ from Low German, also ‘merry fellow.’ Compare Dutch snaak, ‘buffoon.’