An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Recke

by Friedrich Kluge

Recke, m., ‘hero, champion, paladin,’ from MidHG. ręcke, m., ‘warrior, hero,’ orig., however, ‘knight-errant, adventurer, stranger’; comp. OHG. ręccho, earlier wręccho, m., OSax. wrękkio, m., ‘vagrant, outlaw, stranger,’ AS. wręčča, ‘fugitive, exile, unfortunate wretch,’ whence E. wretch. These interesting West Teut. cognates implying Goth. *wrakja are connected with ModHG. rächen, Goth. wrikan, ‘to persecute.’ ModHG. elend has a somewhat similar development.