Etymology Dictionary

NECK,  the part of the body joining the head to the trunk.  (E.)   M.E. nekke (dissyllabic), Chaucer, C. T. 5859.—A.S. hnecca, Deut. xxviii. 35. + Du. nek, the nape of the neck. + Icel. knakki, the nape of the neck, back of the head. + Dan. nakke, the same. + Swed. nacke, the same. + G. nacken, O.H.G. hnach, the same.   β. Frequently derived from A.S. hnígan, to bend, which is impossible; we cannot derive k from g.   The evidence shews that the orig. sense is rather the 'nape of the neck,' or back of the head; and neck and nape are nearly parallel forms with much the same sense.   Just as nape is a mere variant of knop, so neck is allied to knag, kunck-le.   Cf. Norweg. nakk, a knoll, nakke, nape, neck; G. knocken, a knot, knag.   The O. Du. knoke, 'the knobb or knot of a tree' (Hexham), explains both E. knuckle and F. nuque, the nape of the neck.   See Knuckle.   Der. neck-cloth, neckerchief (for neck-kerchief, see Kerchief), neck-band, neck-tie; neck-lace, Winter's Tale, iv. 4. 244, compounded of neck and lace; neck-verse, Tyndall's Works, p. 112, col. 1, on which see my note to P. Plowman, C. xv. 129.