An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Beifuß

by Friedrich Kluge

Beifuß, m., ‘a species of wormwood used in seasoning food’; the MidHG. and OHG. word was written bĩbôȥ, hence the semi-LowG aspect of the ModHG. word. OHG. bîbôȥ is cognate with anabôȥ (see Amboß), and connected with an OTeut. verb bautan, ‘to pound’; bîbôȥ, ‘spice pounded and mixed with food.’ The LG. form of the OHG. word is bîvôt, and hence arose the ModHG. Beifuß, by the awkward attempt of popular etymology to connect bîvôt with a well-known word.