Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *welk-, from Proto-Indo-European *wel- ‎(“to bend, turn, roll, twist”). Akin to Old High German walchan ‎(“to beat, to full”) (German walken ‎(“to full”)), Middle Dutch walken ‎(“to press, knead, full”), Icelandic vælka ‎(“to stamp, roll”), Danish valke ‎(“to full”).