- reek (n.)
- Old English rec (Anglian), riec (West Saxon), "smoke from burning material," probably from Old Norse reykr (cf. Reykjavik, literally "smoky bay"), from Proto-Germanic *raukiz (cf. Old Frisian rek, Middle Dutch rooc, Old High German rouh, German Rauch "smoke, steam"), apparently not found outside Germanic. Sense of "stench" is attested 1650s, via the notion of "that which rises."
- reek (v.)
- Old English recan (Anglian), reocan (West Saxon), from Proto-Germanic *reukanan (cf. German rauchen "to smoke," riechen "to smell"). Originally "to emit smoke;" meaning "to emit a bad smell" is recorded from 1710. Related: Reeked; reeking.