An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Majoran

by Friedrich Kluge

Majoran, masculine, ‘marjoram,’ in Middle High German meigramme, masculine, and also meiron, meieron, ‘marjoram.’ From Middle Latin majorana; the Middle High German words seem to be based in sound on meie, ‘May.’ Compare Italian majorana, French marjolaine, English marjoram; the last two have also been corrupted?. The ultimate source of the- word is Greek ἁμάρακον, whence Latin amaracus and majoracus (based on major).