An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Griebe

by Friedrich Kluge

Griebe (Bavarian Greube), feminine, from the equivalent Middle High German griebe (Bavarian griube, Swiss grṻbe), Old High German griobo, griubo, masculine, ‘greaves’ (in Old High German also, ‘frying-pan’?); corresponding to Anglo-Saxon greófa, English greaves, Swedish grefwar; g in this word scarcely represents the prefix ga-, ge-, so that the word might be connected with the root of Old High German girouben, ‘to fry.’