An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Dost

by Friedrich Kluge

Dost, Dosten, m., ‘marjoram,’ from MidHG. doste, toste, OHG. tosto, dosto, m., ‘wild thyme.’ It may be really identical with MidHG. doste, toste, m., ‘bunch, nosegay,’ so that ‘thyme’ would be a specialised meaning. The Goth. word was probably *þusta, ‘shrub.’ Further cognates to help in determining the root are wanting. Comp. Tost.