Where does “Heckpfennig” come from?

Heckpfennig (German) comes from German hecken, from Middle High German hecken, from Proto-Germanic hakjaną, from Proto-Indo-European keg- — peg; hook.

Heckpfennig (German): a special pfennig that can create more pfennigs, according to folklore

Definitions

  1. a special pfennig that can create more pfennigs, according to folklore

Ancestry of “Heckpfennig”, step by step

Heckpfennig traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via German hecken

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Germanheckento hatch; to give birth to a large number of...
2Middle High Germanhecken—
3Proto-GermanichakjanąTo peck; chip; To stick; pierce; prick
4Proto-Indo-Europeankeg-peg; hook

via German Pfennig

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1GermanPfennigpfennig; penny
2Middle High Germanpfennic—
Every word from Proto-Indo-European keg- →Every word from Proto-Germanic hakjaną →Every word from Middle High German hecken →
Heckpfennig — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer