An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/wacker

by Friedrich Kluge

wacker, adj., ‘valiant, gallant, honest,’ from MidHG. wacker (wacher), OHG. wacchar (wahhhar), adj., ‘cheerful, lively, awake’; comp. Du. wakker, ‘awake, awakened, cheerful, powerful,’ AS. wacor, ‘awake,’ OIc. wakr, ‘stirring, awake.’ An old derivative to Sans. vigra, ‘powerful, active’) from the Teut. root wak, ‘to be stirring, brisk’ (see wecken); comp. also wach.