Ultimately from Proto-Germanic *rukkô, although the intermediate language is uncertain. Possibly Gothic *𐍂𐌿𐌺𐌺𐌰 (*rukka), however, the vowel quality in Iberian Romance (/ɔ/ in Portuguese, /we/ in Spanish) points to a possible West Germanic loanword, or to the influence of Latin rota (“wheel”). Cognate to Galician roca, Spanish rueca, Italian rocca, Old High German rocko (German Rocken).