Where does “holk” come from?

holk (Scots) comes from Middle English holken, from Middle English holk, from Old English holc, from Proto-Germanic hulkaz, from Proto-Indo-European ḱel- — to cover; to incline.

Ancestry of “holk”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishholkento dig, excavate
2Middle Englishholka hollow part, cavity
3Old Englishholchole, cavity
4Proto-Germanichulkazcavity, hollow, recess; a hollow
5Proto-Indo-Europeanḱel-to cover; to incline

Words derived from “holk”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European ḱel- →Every word from Proto-Germanic hulkaz →Every word from Old English holc →
holk — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer