Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *ga- ‎(perfective prefix) + *walkaną ‎(“to twist, turn, roll about, stomp, full”), from Proto-Indo-European *wolg-, *welg- ‎(“to bend, twist, run, roll”). Cognate with Old High German walchan ‎(“to full, press”), Old Norse valka ‎(“to wander about”), Old English weallian ‎(“to roam about, ramble”).