An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/horchen

by Friedrich Kluge

horchen, vb., ‘to hearken, listen to, obey,’ properly MidG. (in UpG. losen, hören), MidHG. hō̆rchen, late OHG. hôrechen, from *hôrahhôn; comp. AS. *heárcian, E. to hark, OFris. hêrkia; a common West Teut. derivative of hören. Goth. *hauzaqôn? (whence in AS. hŷrcnian, E. to hearken). Comp. E. to talk, connected with to tell, to lurk with to lower (see lauern), to walk, related to wallen.