An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Rebe
Rebe, feminine, ‘vine, vine-branch,’ from Middle High German rëbe, Old High German rëba, feminine, Middle High German rëbe, Old High German rëbo, masculine, ‘vine, tendril, creeper’ (compare Gundelrebe); corresponding words are wanting in the other dialects Old High German has a remarkable form, hirnirëba, ‘skull,’ literally perhaps ‘entwining the brain’; hence with this word is connected the common Teutonic Rippe, as well as Old Slovenian rebro, ‘rib’ (see Rippe). The primary idea of all these terms, and of the Aryan root rebh, deduced from them, is ‘winding, entwining.’ —