wickeln

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German[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From Middle High German wickeln (to wind, wrap around), denominative of wickel, from Old High German wickilī (fibres wound around the distaff), from Proto-Germanic *wīkaną (to bend), from Proto-Indo-European *weg- (to weave).

Related to modern Wickel (anything wrapped, especially a cloth around a poultice). The Old High German noun is a diminutive of wiohha (bundle of fibres, wick), whence archaic German Wieche.

The above Wieche is immediately cognate with Dutch wiek. Also related with Old English wēoce, whence English wick, and further with Latin vēlum (cloth, veil), Sanskrit वागुरा (vāgurā, snare, noose).

Pronunciation[edit]

  • IPA(key): /ˈvɪkəln/, [ˈvɪ.kl̩n], [ˈʋɪ-], [-kəln]
  • (file)
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  • Hyphenation: wi‧ckeln

Verb[edit]

wickeln (weak, third-person singular present wickelt, past tense wickelte, past participle gewickelt, auxiliary haben)

  1. to wrap, wind around, coil
    Er wickelt eine Binde um das verletzte Bein.
    He wraps a bandage around the injured leg.
    Ehe ich friere, wickle ich mich in den Vorhang da!
    Before I get cold, I'll wrap myself in that curtain!
  2. to swaddle (a baby); to change its nappy/diaper
    Vater und Mutter wickeln ihr Baby abwechselnd.
    Father and mother take turns changing their baby.

Conjugation[edit]

Derived terms[edit]

Descendants[edit]

  • Dutch: wikkelen

Further reading[edit]

  • wickeln” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache
  • wickeln” in Uni Leipzig: Wortschatz-Lexikon
  • wickeln” in Duden online
  • wickeln” in OpenThesaurus.de