An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Holunder

by Friedrich Kluge

Holunder, m., from the equiv. MidHG. holunder, holder, OHG. holantar, holuntar, m., ‘elder’; for OHG. -tar as a suffix see Wachholder, Maßholder. Its relation to the equiv. AS. ellen, E. elder, is dubious. It is most closely allied to the equiv. Russ. kalína.