An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Kümmel

by Friedrich Kluge

Kümmel, masculine, ‘cummin, caraway seeds,’ from the equivalent Middle High German kümel, Old High German chumil, masculine, with the variants Middle High German kümin, Old High German chumī̆n; compare Anglo-Saxon cymen, Dutch komijn, Middle Low German kömen; from Latin and Romance cŭmînum. The change of n into l is the same as in Igel (in Upper German still kümi, kümich). With regard to the period of the adoption of Latin words relating to horticulture and the art of cookery, compare Käse, Küche, Minze, Pfeffer, &c.