An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Dambock

by Friedrich Kluge

Dambock, Damhirsch, m., ‘buck’; in ModHG. often written Damm- in the attempt to find some cognate for this unintelligible word. MidHG. tâme, from OHG. tâmo, dâmo, m.; the word is of Lat. origin, dâma (Fr. daim, m., daine, f.). It is remarkable that in AS. the labial nasal is lost — AS. dâ, E. doe; perhaps the latter is of genuine Teut. origin. The initial d of the ModHG. word is due to the Lat. original, or to LG. influence.