The word "schenk" is a German loanword that has made its way into English. It is pronounced as /ʃɛŋk/ and is often spelled with an "s" or a "sh". The reason for this variation in spelling is due to the difference in the German and English pronunciation of the "s" sound. In German, the "s" sound can vary based on the surrounding letters, whereas in English it is typically either voiced (as in "sang") or voiceless (as in "sink"). Therefore, both "schenk" and "shenk" are acceptable spellings of this word.
The word "schenk" has a Germanic origin and can be traced back to the Old High German word "skenken", which means "to pour out, to pour a drink". This Old High German term ultimately derives from the Proto-Germanic word "*skankijaną", meaning "to pour, to give to drink". It is related to other Germanic cognates such as Old English "sceancan" (to pour, to serve) and Old Norse "skenkja" (to pour, to hand over). Over time, the meaning of "schenk" evolved to refer specifically to a person responsible for pouring and serving drinks, such as a cupbearer or a bartender.