Etymology: Of obscure history: the existing word is not the normal phonetic representative of Old English elch , elh (eolh ), and is probably < Middle High German elch ( < Old High German elaho ). The relation of the Old Norse elg-r (Swedish elg ) < type *algi-z to the Old English and German words ( < types *elho- , *elhon- ) is uncertain. The English form alke was influenced by Latin alces , Greek ἄλκη (compare alce n.), which appear only as the name of an animal living in northern Europe (apparently the elk), and are probably adopted < Germanic or some other northern language.

Etymology: Origin unknown.It has been suggested that elke may be a transmission error for ewe , variant of yew n. Another suggestion is that elke may be an error for Elbe, the name of a river in northern Germany, as a statute of Elizabeth I directs that bow staves should be imported from the 72 Hanse towns.

Etymology: Origin unknown.A connection has been suggested with Welsh alarch swan (13th cent.), Old Cornish elerhc (probably a transmission error for *elerch ) (plural) swans (ultimately < the same Indo-European base as post-classical Latin olor swan: see olour n.); however, the English word is not clearly attested in western varieties, but is recorded in East Anglia in the 17th cent., and later chiefly in northern England. Nonetheless, some contact is implied by the later Welsh †elcys wild geese collectively (a1607; probably < the plural of the English word). Alternatively, the following passage implies that the author took the word to be of Dutch origin (which fits slightly better with the later distribution), but no likely etymon has been traced:1622 M. Drayton 2nd Pt. Poly-olbion xxv. 107 The wild Swanne, the Ilke, Of Hollanders so tearm'd.