An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Stück

by Friedrich Kluge

Stück, neuter, ‘piece, article,’ from the equivalent Middle High German stücke, Old High German stucchi, neuter; a common Teutonic word; compare Old Saxon stukki, Dutch stuk, Anglo-Saxon styčče, Old Icelandic stykke, neuter, ‘piece.’ Allied to Stock, and, like the latter word, probably means literally ‘that which is cut off or hewn to pieces.’ The secondary meaning ‘bark’ of Old High German stucchi is indicated by Italian stucco, ‘gypsum, stucco,’ whence again Modern High German Stuck, ‘stucco,’ masculine, Stuckatur, feminine, ‘stucco-work.’