An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Ammer

by Friedrich Kluge

Ammer, f., from the equiv. MidHG. amer, OHG. amero (*amaro), m.,’ yellow-hammer,’ with the deriv. OHG. and MidHG. amerinc, ‘yellow-hammer,’ MidLat. amarellus, which may have been formed from the G. word; E. yellow - hammer (Goldammer) is a corrupt form. Whether OHG. *amaro was derived from OHG. amar, ‘summer-spelt,’ is as doubtful as its relation to Amsel.