An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

1. The track left by a moving ship.
   

2. A turbulent region appearing behind an object in a fluid which streams around the object, for example behind an aircraft in flight.

Etymology (EN): Cognate with M.L.G. wake “wake,” Nor. dialect vok, O.N. vok, voka “hole in the ice.”

Etymology (PE): Kel, from Tabari kel, kal “trail, track, footprint.”