An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Karbe

by Friedrich Kluge

Karbe, Karve, f., ‘caraway,’ from the equiv. MidHG. karwe and karne, f.; allied to Fr. and Ital. carvi, ‘caraway.’ The usual assumption that this word as well as E. caraway is based on Lat. careum (Gr. κάρον), ‘caraway,’ is not quite satisfactory, hence the influence of Arab. al-karavîa is assumed.