An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/krank
krank, adj., ‘sick, ill,’ from MidHG. kranc (k), adj., ‘narrow, slender, slight, powerless, weak, null’ (in OHG. not yet found). The earliest references are in the first half of the 12th cent., therefore krank is most frequently regarded as a LG. loan-word; but the late appearance of the word cannot be accepted as a proof of its having been borrowed, since this is not supported by its form, which may be derived from an OTeut. source; comp. OHG. chrancholôn, ‘to grow weak, stumble’; AS. cranc, ‘feeble, infirm,’ also occurs rarely. For the further history of the word we must at all events proceed from the latter meaning (siech is the OTeut. adj. for ‘sick’); Scand. krankr, ‘sick,’ is borrowed from G. (*krakkr must have been the native form); a genuine Scand. krangr, ‘feeble,’ also occurs. The common West Teut. adj. kranka- is connected with AS. cringan, lit. ‘to writhe like one mortally wounded, salt in fight, fall with a crash’ (thus closely allied in meaning to AS. cranc, ‘infirm, tottering’). With the same root kring, krink, are connected ModHG. Kring, ‘circular pad for the head,’ E. crank, to crankle, crinkle. —